Economics

Ecosystem services indicators: Improving the linkage between biophysical and economic analyses

Document Type

Article

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.

Publication Title

International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics

Publication Date

2016

Volume

8

Issue

3-4

First Page

359

Last Page

443

ISSN

1932-1465

DOI

10.1561/101.00000073

Keywords

ecological indicators, ecosystem services, nonmarket valuation

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