Valuation of ecosystem services and natural capital
0
Citation
0
Reference
20
Related Paper
Keywords:
Ecosystem valuation
Natural Capital
Ecological Economics
Ecosystem Management
Cite
servicesrefer to the goods and services that the ecosystem provides for us. They include food, water, air, minerals, raw materials and the processes that purify air and water as well as sequester or break down wastes. Ecosystem services link the functioning of ecosystem to human well-being. Ecosystem services research has become more and more important with the progress of science technology and the increasing degradation of environment over the past decade. Some basic issues in ecosystem services research, including the definition and classification, main characteristics, the supply, demand and use, and the valuation of ecosystem services were explored in this paper. The results indicate that: 1) The termecosystem servicehas been defined differently in literatures. The academic circle has different understandings about ecosystem services since they are defined in terms of their benefits to people. Therefore, a clear definition and implication relevant to the specific context should be presented in ecosystem services research; 2) Ecosystem services are the sources of human well-being. Ecosystem services have several key characteristics such as complexity, scale features, public-private goods aspect and benefit dependence, which are very important for the measuring, simulating, valuing and managing of the services; 3) The supply, demand and consumption of ecosystem services are three key points that link ecosystems and human well-being. They are of great importance to both ecological conservation and social equity. Integrated study on those three points must be carried out to form sound ecosystem management decisions; 4) The value of ecosystem services is viewed and expressed differently by different disciplines, cultural concepts, philosophical views and schools of thought. It mainly includes utilitarian value, ecological value, socio-cultural value and intrinsic value. And integration of the spatial dimension of ecosystem services in local decision-making would increase the potential for realizing the true value of these services.
Ecosystem valuation
Total human ecosystem
Ecosystem Management
Cite
Citations (4)
Natural Capital
Ecosystem valuation
Cite
Citations (16)
This paper reviewed the research progress on marine ecosystem services from the aspects of basic theories, valuation methods and practical applications. Among the numerous definitions of ecosystem services, the concept suggested by Daily (1997) was widely accepted by ecologists, while that by Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA, 2003) was more apt to sociology and management. There was no standard classification for ecosystem services, but the MA’s classification was more practical and operational for valuation. It was lack of systematical research on the marine ecosystem services, neither from theoretical aspect nor for suitable classification. As for valuation methods, there were lots of discussion in ecological values and societal values. Although many techniques could be used to know people’s willingness to pay (WTP), the valuation for non-market services was still quite weak. Most application researches focused on the tradeoff between economic activities and ecosystem services, which would benefit to the management and sustainable use of these services. How to apply the ecosystem services to the management and policy making was also discussed and prospected.
Ecosystem valuation
Ecosystem Management
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Cite
Citations (1)
Ecosystem valuation
Cite
Citations (4,553)
Abstract We have reviewed the development, background and valuation history of ecosystem services in China and abroad, and highlight the importance of ecosystem services and the necessity of their valuation at various temporal and spatial scales. Through critical review of the literature, we have elucidated disadvantages in studies of ecosystem services in China, including the lack of a definite purpose for the valuation of ecosystem services, improper emphasis of valuation studies, stifled application of the contingent valuation method, weak power of research panels in the field, and the absence of the participation of government officials. In addition, we discuss some case studies from Western countries which tracked changes in the total economic value (TEV) of ecosystem services across different states of ecological disturbance and evaluated changes in the TEV under different management regimes. These studies may be useful in guiding future research in China. In essence, there are three major aspects involved in the valuation of ecosystem services: improving accuracy of valuation, association of results of valuation with policy and management decisions, and transfer of payments for ecosystem services. We suggest three priorities for future research in China: to develop an ecosystem service valuation model, to enhance the relevance of valuation studies to policy development, and to reward the protectors of ecosystem services. Keywords: CONTINGENT VALUATIONECOSYSTEM SERVICESCHINATOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE
Ecosystem valuation
Ecosystem Management
Cite
Citations (11)
Ecosystem valuation
Cite
Citations (1)
Monetary valuation of ecosystem services is a widely used approach to quantify the benefits supplied by the natural environment to society. An alternative approach is the monetary valuation of ecosystem functions, which is defined as the capacity of the ecosystem to supply services. Using two European case-study areas, this paper explores the relative advantages of the two valuation approaches. This is done using a conceptual analysis, a qualitative application, and an overall comparison of both approaches. It is concluded that both approaches can be defended on theoretical grounds, and – if properly applied – will provide the same value estimates. However, valuation of ecosystem services is preferred from a practical point of view. Because there is no one-to-one match between functions and services, researchers should be consistent in their valuation approach. To avoid overlooking or overlapping of values, valuation should either be solely based on functions, or solely based on services.
Ecosystem valuation
Cite
Citations (42)
The paper aims to investigate the international experience of valuation and identification of ecosystem services. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research includes the theory of value and the ecosystem approach. The authors apply the dialectical method, logical abstraction, comparative analysis, grouping method, and the method of analogies. To build the hierarchy of ecosystem services and determine the most important ones in relation to soil and forest ecosystems statistical methods are implemented. The paper presents the results of the analysis of the key projects on valuation of ecosystem services in terms of content, scale and adopted methods; the identification of the most often valuated ecosystem services; and refined classification of ecosystem services and method for their evaluation. The practical significance of the research lies in the improvement of the economic mechanism of the regulation of natural resources management, which is meant to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change, what eventually will increase the probability of attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The research findings form the basis for further formulation of the methodological recommendations about valuation of the ecosystem services in different physical-geographical zones.
Ecosystem valuation
Identification
Cite
Citations (1)
Ecosystem valuation
Ecosystem Management
Cite
Citations (156)
The services of ecological system and their natural capital stocks involved are critical to the function of the Earth's (life-support) system. The ecosystem services contribute to human welfare, both directly and indirectly, and therefore represent a part of the total (economic) value of the global, state and regional economy system. In order to manage the natural capital and ecosystem effectively, (reasonable) assessment methodology and criteria of multi-dimension at different scale should be built. On the basis of reviewing (literatures) and studies on ecosystem services, this paper generalizes the definition and functions of ecosystem services, and sums up the principles of ecosystem service assessment. Some problems in the assessment methods,rationality of ecosystem services value, and the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of value of ecosystem services are also discussed.
Natural Capital
Ecosystem valuation
Value (mathematics)
Cite
Citations (0)