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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Valuing ecosystem services in terms of ecological risks and returns.
David J Abson1, Mette Termansen
1Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. d.abson@see.leeds.ac.uk
Summary
Economic valuation of ecosystem services aids biodiversity conservation by addressing market failures. This study proposes a framework valuing all ecosystem services, shifting towards dynamic trade-offs for sustainable benefit flows.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Economics
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Economic valuation of ecosystem services is crucial for biodiversity loss mitigation.
- Market failures, where human benefits from ecosystems are unrecognized, contribute to ecosystem degradation.
- Monetary valuation of ecosystem services is proposed to correct these market failures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the economic valuation of different ecosystem service types.
- To propose a heuristic framework for valuing all ecosystem services, including supporting and cultural services.
- To advocate for a shift from static, monetary valuation to dynamic trade-offs considering future ecosystem benefits.
Main Methods:
- Economic framework analysis of ecosystem service valuation.
- Distinguishing between directly and indirectly valued ecosystem services.
- Developing a heuristic framework for ecological risk-return assessment in ecosystem service provision.
Main Results:
- Provisioning and regulating ecosystem services are amenable to economic valuation.
- Cultural ecosystem services require non-economic, deliberative valuation methods.
- Supporting ecosystem services' value is derived from their impact on other valued services, influencing risk.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive ecosystem service valuation framework must incorporate all service types.
- Valuation should move beyond static monetary measures to dynamic trade-offs.
- This approach enhances the understanding of ecosystem resilience and future benefit provision for biodiversity conservation.
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