Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/117935 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
Nota di Lavoro No. 54.2004
Publisher: 
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Milano
Abstract: 
The importance of ecosystem functions for humankind is well known. But only few attempts have been undertaken to estimate the economic value of these ecosystem services. In particular, indirect methods are rarely used, even though they are most suitable for the task. This discrepancy is because quantitative knowledge of changes in ecosystem functions is scarce. This paper presents a user-friendly procedure to quantify the increased N-retention in a renaturated river using easily available data. In a case study of the renaturated River Jossa (Germany) the benefits of increased nitrogen retention caused by beaver reintroduction are determined by using the replacement cost method. The quantification of chemical processes is discussed in detail, as well as the problems of defining an adequate reference scenario for the substitute costs. Results show that economic benefits from the evaluated ecosystem service (€12,000/annum) equal 12% of the total costs of the corresponding conservation scheme.
Subjects: 
Biodiversity conservation programmes
Cost-benefit-analysis
Replacement cost method
Ecosystem services
Nutrient retention
JEL: 
D61
D62
Q2
Q25
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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