Estimating the monetary value of ecosystems helps make the benefits of nature visible in economic and policy decisions. Many marine and coastal ecosystems provide critical services—like fisheries, coastal protection, and tourism—but these often go uncounted in budgets or development plans. By assigning a monetary value to these services, decision-makers can better weigh the costs and benefits of different policies or investments. It helps ensure that the long-term value of healthy ecosystems to the people that use them is considered alongside short-term economic gains, leading to more sustainable and informed choices.
- What are Ecosystem Goods and Services?
- Why Estimate the Monetary Value of Ecosystems?
- Monetary Estimates of Ecosystem Services in Pacific Island Countries
- Why Are Some Ecosystem Service Benefits Valued and Others Not?
- How Do We Measure Ecosystem Values?
- Why Does Ecosystem Valuation Vary So Much?
- Does It Really Add Up to Estimate Total Economic Value?
- How does ecosystem valuation relate to Environmental Accounting?