A demand-driven approach to ecosystem services economic valuation: Lessons from Pacific island countries and territories

Abstract Ecosystem services economic valuation (ESV) is often presented as an effective tool for decision-makers to achieve sustainable development objectives. Yet social processes leading to decisions call for a pragmatic, demand-driven — as opposed to supply-driven – approach to ensure ESV are actually used and make a difference. Based on an overview of ESV conducted in the Pacific island region and beyond, this paper builds on a two-fold diagnosis: (i) Experience from the Pacific and elsewhere shows both growing interest for ESV in support of island conservation and climate change resilience, and growing concern over the lack of use of such valuations when they are conducted; and (ii) Experience so far has been based on what economists have to offer rather than based on stakeholders’ needs. This paper presents lessons learnt from a five-year coastal resilience project which advocated and put to the test a demand-driven approach to ESV in several Pacific island countries and territories.