Ecosystem Services Indicators: Improving the Linkage between Biophysical and Economic Analyses

Resources for the Future Discussion Paper 15-40

89 Pages Posted: 30 Sep 2015

See all articles by James Boyd

James Boyd

Resources for the Future

Paul Ringold

Government of the United States of America - Western Ecology Division

Alan Krupnick

Resources for the Future

Robert Johnson

Clark University - George Perkins Marsh Institute

Matthew Weber

Government of the United States of America - Western Ecology Division

Kim Meyer Hall

Oregon State University - Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society

Date Written: September 14, 2015

Abstract

For ecosystem services analysis, a key to collaboration between natural and social scientists is the identification and measurement of linking indicators: biophysical indicators that facilitate social evaluation, including monetary valuation of ecological changes. As ecosystem service analysts and practitioners better recognize the various ways in which people benefit from ecosystems, natural scientists will be called on to develop, use, and report on metrics and indicators that link to those diverse benefits. The paper develops principles to guide the identification of linking indicators, compares their features with those of more commonly collected ecological measures, and reviews empirical evidence pertinent to their identification, definition, and performance, primarily from the point of view of conducting monetary valuation of ecological outcomes.

Keywords: ecosystem services, ecological indicators, nonmarket valuation

JEL Classification: Q51, Q57

Suggested Citation

Boyd, James William and Ringold, Paul and Krupnick, Alan and Johnson, Robert and Weber, Matthew and Hall, Kim Meyer, Ecosystem Services Indicators: Improving the Linkage between Biophysical and Economic Analyses (September 14, 2015). Resources for the Future Discussion Paper 15-40, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2662053 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2662053

James William Boyd (Contact Author)

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States
202-328-5013 (Phone)
202-939-3460 (Fax)

Paul Ringold

Government of the United States of America - Western Ecology Division ( email )

200 S.W. 35th St.
Corvallis, OR 97333
United States

Alan Krupnick

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Robert Johnson

Clark University - George Perkins Marsh Institute ( email )

16 Claremont Street
Worcester, MA 01610-1477
United States

Matthew Weber

Government of the United States of America - Western Ecology Division ( email )

200 S.W. 35th St.
Corvallis, OR 97333
United States

Kim Meyer Hall

Oregon State University - Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society ( email )

321 Richardson Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
United States

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