Journal ArticleDOI
The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital
Robert Costanza,Rudolf de Groot,Stephen Farberk,Monica Grasso,Bruce Hannon,Karin E. Limburg,Shahid Naeem,José M. Paruelo,Robert Raskin,Paul Suttonkk,Marjan van den Belt +10 more
TLDR
In this paper, the authors have estimated the current economic value of 17 ecosystem services for 16 biomes, based on published studies and a few original calculations, for the entire biosphere, the value (most of which is outside the market) is estimated to be in the range of US$16-54 trillion (10^(12)) per year, with an average of US $33 trillion per year.Abstract:
The services of ecological systems and the natural capital stocks that produce them are critical to the functioning of the Earth's life-support system. They contribute to human welfare, both directly and indirectly, and therefore represent part of the total economic value of the planet. We have estimated the current economic value of 17 ecosystem services for 16 biomes, based on published studies and a few original calculations. For the entire biosphere, the value (most of which is outside the market) is estimated to be in the range of US$16-54 trillion (10^(12)) per year, with an average of US$33 trillion per year. Because of the nature of the uncertainties, this must be considered a minimum estimate. Global gross national product total is around US$18 trillion per year.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
A quantitative review of ecosystem service studies: approaches, shortcomings and the road ahead
TL;DR: In this article, a quantitative review of recent literature shows the diversity of approaches and uncovers a lack of consistent methodology for ecosystem service assessment, and provides guidelines for further development and discussions supporting consistency in applications of the ecosystem service concept as well as the credibility of results.
Journal ArticleDOI
Critical evaluation of the nursery role hypothesis for seagrass meadows
TL;DR: Structure per se, rather than the type of structure, appears to be an important determinant of nursery value in seagrass meadows as well as other structured habitats.
Journal ArticleDOI
Where are Cultural and Social in Ecosystem Services? A Framework for Constructive Engagement
Kai M. A. Chan,Anne D. Guerry,Patricia Balvanera,Sarah C. Klain,Terre Satterfield,Xavier Basurto,Ann Bostrom,Ratana Chuenpagdee,Rachelle K. Gould,Benjamin S. Halpern,Neil Hannahs,Jordan Levine,Bryan G. Norton,Mary Ruckelshaus,Roly Russell,Jordan Tam,Ulalia Woodside +16 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors develop a framework for ecosystem services research and practice, addressing three challenges: (1) non-material values are ill suited to characterization using monetary methods; (2) it is difficult to unequivocally link particular changes in socioecological systems to cultural benefits; and (3) cultural benefits are associated with many services, not just cultural ES.
Journal ArticleDOI
Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment: Five Decades of Experience†
TL;DR: Today, constructed wetlands are recognized as a reliable wastewater treatment technology and they represent a suitable solution for the treatment of many types of wastewater.
Journal ArticleDOI
Global mapping of ecosystem services and conservation priorities
Robin Naidoo,Andrew Balmford,Robert Costanza,Brendan Fisher,Rhys E. Green,Bernhard Lehner,T.R. Malcolm,Taylor H. Ricketts +7 more
TL;DR: The preliminary results show that regions selected to maximize biodiversity provide no more ecosystem services than regions chosen randomly, and spatial concordance among different services, and between ecosystem services and established conservation priorities, varies widely.
References
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Book
Using surveys to value public goods : the contingent valuation method
TL;DR: Mitchell and Carson as discussed by the authors argue that at this time the contingent valuation (CV) method offers the most promising approach for determining public willingness to pay for many public goods, an approach likely to succeed, if used carefully, where other methods may fail.
Journal ArticleDOI
Nature's services: societal dependence on natural ecosystems.
TL;DR: Nature's Services brings together world-renowned scientists from a variety of disciplines to examine the character and value of ecosystem services, the damage that has been done to them, and the consequent implications for human society.
Book
For The Common Good: Redirecting The Economy Towards Community, The Environment And A Sustainable Future
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the scale of human activity in the biosphere has grown too large and that change is needed in the approach to economic activity: "correction and expansion a more empirical and historical attitude less pretense on being science and willingness to subordinate the market to purposes that it is not geared to determine."
Journal ArticleDOI
Primary production required to sustain global fisheries
Daniel Pauly,Villy Christensen +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the mean of reported annual world fisheries catches for 1988-1991 (94.3 million t) was split into 39 species groups, to which fractional trophic levels, ranging from 1.0 (edible algae) to 4.2 (tunas), were assigned, based on 48 published Trophic models, providing a global coverage of six major aquatic ecosystem types.
Journal ArticleDOI
Natural Capital and Sustainable Development
Robert Costanza,Herman E. Daly +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, a minimum necessary condition for sustainability is the maintenance of the total natural capital stock at or above the current level, to be relaxed only when solid evidence can be offered that it is safe to do so.