Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Reports
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10419/110609
Document publication document
Title (Primary) Ecosystem services in German infrastructure planning – a case study of the projected Lower Weser deepening
Author Droste, N.; Meya, J.N.
Source Titel UFZ Discussion Papers
Year 2015
Department OEKON
Volume 8/2015
Page To 23
Language deutsch
Keywords ecosystem services; cost-benefit analysis; infrastructure planning; river deepening; Germany
UFZ wide themes RU6;
Abstract We study the incorporation of ecosystem services in German water infrastructure planning exemplified by a projected deepening of the Lower Weser river channel. Therefore, we recalculate the project’s benefit-cost ratio by integrating the monetary value of changes in different ecosystem services: i) the restoration costs of a planned mitigation measure for a loss in fresh water supply for agricultural production in the estuary, ii) costs of loss in habitat services by transferring the willingness to pay between a contingent valuation study to the area assessed in the environmental impact assessment, and iii) the benefits of emission savings induced by more efficient shipping taking a marginal abatement cost approach. We find that the inclusion of monetary values for ecosystem service changes leads to a substantial drop in the benefit-cost ratio and consequently argue for a reform of the standard to facilitate more complete welfare assessments.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=16287
Droste, N., Meya, J.N. (2015):
Ecosystem services in German infrastructure planning – a case study of the projected Lower Weser deepening
UFZ Discussion Papers 8/2015
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 23 S.