Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Reports
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10419/144178
Document publication document
Title (Primary) Are diverse ecosystems more valuable? A conceptual framework for economic valuation of biodiversity
Author Bartkowski, B.
Source Titel UFZ Discussion Papers
Year 2016
Department OEKON
Volume 9/2016
Page To 21
Language englisch
Keywords biodiversity; ecological system; economic goods; economic value; sustainability; economic valuation; insurance value; option value; TEV
UFZ wide themes RU6;
Abstract Biodiversity is an important environmental public good. However, the literature suggests that it is not clear how its economic value should be estimated; there is no established framework for doing this. This paper summarises concepts of biodiversity value from the ecological and economic literatures and combines them to a comprehensive and consistent framework. It is argued that biodiversity is the main carrier of insurance value, option value and spill-over value, and also influences the aesthetic appreciation of ecosystems. On that basis, an extension of the TEV framework is proposed to incorporate biodiversity values better. Furthermore, a number of specific challenges of biodiversity as an economic good are identified and used as criteria to inform the choice of suitable valuation methods.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=18083
Bartkowski, B. (2016):
Are diverse ecosystems more valuable? A conceptual framework for economic valuation of biodiversity
UFZ Discussion Papers 9/2016
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 21 pp.