Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Untying a Lancastrian bundle: valuing ecosystems and ecosystem services for wetland mitigation
John P Hoehn1, Frank Lupi, Michael D Kaplowitz
1Department of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Journal of Environmental Management
|July 3, 2003
Summary
Wetland mitigation prices are influenced by public preferences and knowledge. Empirical studies reveal knowledge gaps, necessitating better information tools or data integration for accurate wetland valuation.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Economics
- Conservation Science
Background:
- Wetland ecosystems provide critical services but face degradation.
- Accurate valuation is essential for effective mitigation and conservation policies.
- Understanding public perception and knowledge is key to policy acceptance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model wetland mitigation prices based on utility theory.
- To empirically assess public knowledge regarding wetland ecosystems.
- To propose methods for improving wetland valuation accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Developed a utility-theoretic model for mitigation pricing.
- Conducted empirical analysis to identify knowledge gaps in respondents.
- Evaluated the impact of misinformation on valuation.
Main Results:
- Mitigation prices are significantly influenced by individual preferences and technical knowledge.
- A notable gap exists in respondents' understanding of wetland functions and services.
- Misinformation can lead to inaccurate valuations of wetland types.
Conclusions:
- Effective wetland valuation requires addressing public knowledge deficits.
- Tools to inform the public about ecosystem services are needed.
- Integrating service-based valuations with robust technical data enhances accuracy.
Related Concept Videos
01:17What is an Ecosystem?
Overview
02:41Responses to Drought and Flooding
Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
01:19Design Example: Maintaining Level of an Embankment
Constructing a roadway embankment over uneven terrain requires precise leveling to ensure stability and proper drainage. Surveyors use a leveling instrument and staff to calculate ground elevations and determine the required fill material at each point along the embankment alignment.The process begins by positioning a leveling instrument near a benchmark with a known elevation. A backsight reading establishes the instrument height, which serves as a reference for subsequent measurements. A...
01:17Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...
01:30Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.