scholarly journals Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and Cost-Benefit Analysis: Comparing alternative frameworks for integrated valuation of ecosystem services

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 238-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heli Saarikoski ◽  
Jyri Mustajoki ◽  
David N. Barton ◽  
Davide Geneletti ◽  
Johannes Langemeyer ◽  
...  
1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison R Joubert ◽  
Anthony Leiman ◽  
Helen M de Klerk ◽  
Stephen Katua ◽  
J.Coenrad Aggenbach

Author(s):  
Gertrude Hirsch Hadorn

AbstractScience-based methods for assessing the practical rationality of a proposed public policy typically represent assumed future outcomes of policies and values attributed to these outcomes in an idealized, that is, intentionally distorted way and abstracted from aspects that are deemed irrelevant. Different types of methods do so in different ways. As a consequence, they instantiate the properties that result from abstraction and idealization such as conceptual simplicity versus complexity, or comprehensiveness versus selectivity of the values under consideration to different degrees. I hold that none of these methods is best in general. Instead, I opt for the valuation method that is useful for the policy issue in question both in terms of its relevance and in terms of its practicability. Relevance requires that the method can represent and account for what is at stake in the policy issue. Practicability refers to aspects such as easy versus difficult handling of the method. To argue for the claim, I evaluate three types of valuation methods: (1) cost–benefit analysis that rests on unidimensional measurement and ranking, (2) multi-criteria decision analysis that applies multi-dimensional measurement but unidimensional ranking, and (3) non-aggregate indicator systems that operate with multi-dimensional measurement and sometimes also multi-dimensional ranking. Second-order justification indicating whether and how the valuation method chosen is capable of accounting for the substantive value considerations that constitute the real-world policy issue in question renders the conditions on which the results of a proposed policy evaluation rest transparent.


Author(s):  
Juan Francisco Velasco Muñoz ◽  
José Ángel Aznar Sánchez

<p>El estudio de la valoración de los servicios de los ecosistemas es un área de investigación reciente en España pero que ha cobrado un fuerte impulso durante las últimas décadas. El carácter multidimensional de estos servicios, la diversidad de beneficiarios y partes interesadas, y los diferentes enfoques valorativos existentes hacen que su valoración resulte compleja. En este trabajo se presenta el marco conceptual para la valoración de los servicios provistos por los ecosistemas y una descripción de las metodologías más utilizadas, aplicado a los agroecosistemas españoles. Para ello se ha realizado una búsqueda en la base de datos del <em>Institute for Scientific Information </em>(ISI), dando como resultado una muestra de 101 trabajos. La metodología utilizada para su análisis ha sido de tipo cualitativo. Los resultados obtenidos muestran como el grueso de los trabajos de valoración de ecoservicios provistos por agroecosistemas en España se ha publicado durante los últimos cinco años y que entre las metodologías económicas más utilizadas destacan el análisis coste-beneficio, la valoración contingente y los experimentos de elección.</p><p>The study of the valuation of ecosystem services is a recent area of research in Spain but has gained strong impulse during the last decades. The multidimensional nature of these services, in addition to the diversity of related beneficiaries and actors, and the different approaches make their evaluation is complex. This paper presents the conceptual framework for the assessment of services provided by ecosystems and a description of the methodologies most used, applied to Spanish agroecosystems. To this end, it has conducted a search in the database of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), resulting in a sample of 101 papers. The methodology used for the analysis was qualitative. The results show how the majority of the proyect on valuation of ecosystem services provided by agroecosystems in Spain has been published for the past five years and between the most used economic methodologies include the cost-benefit analysis, contingent valuation and choice experiments.</p>


Author(s):  
Benjamin Hale

This chapter argues that reasons are underdetermined and often left out of value-based discussions of nature. The chapter offers a rough sketch of Kantian moral theory – particularly the first two formulations of the Categorical Imperative – to suggest that the primary charge of environmentalism ought to be that of encouraging deeper justification of actions. It utilizes the Endangered Species Act, the argument from ecosystem services, and the case of a stolen kidney to suggest that cost-benefit analysis and related methodologies are insufficient for addressing the broad ethical considerations of environmentalists.


2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (24) ◽  
pp. 7722-7729 ◽  
Author(s):  
宋晓谕 SONG Xiaoyu ◽  
刘玉卿 LIU Yuqing ◽  
邓晓红 DENG Xiaohong ◽  
徐中民 XU Zhongmin

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
Dinesh Chandra Devkota ◽  
Kamal Thapa ◽  
Bhaskar Kharki

Ecosystem services are vital to our well-being as they directly or indirectly support our survival and quality of life. But, the growing impact of climate change diminishes the benefit from ecosystem services. Therefore, identifying possible applicable adaptation options are inevitable to reduce the effect of climate change. The present research is based on a case study of Ksedi River watershed, Ajgada Village in Udaypur district of Nepal. The study demonstrates the comparison between different options to deal with flood and make a sound decision, based on economic rationale for long-term benefits. The present study compares ecosystem based adaptation options with engineering options using cost benefit analysis in order to protect village from flooding. Through stakeholder and expert consultations, ecosystem based adaptation options and economic options that are feasible in the village and catchment to mitigate the floods were listed. Economic analysis of these options and the different combinations were done using cost benefit analysis. Analysis was carried out for each of the different combination of options. Focus on ecosystem based adaptation options provide high benefit to cost return in terms of avoided damages and considering engineering options efficient in flood and erosion control in initial stage in spite of its high cost. The study suggests that reforestation in upland forest areas; plantation along riverbed and management of rangeland should be prioritized. Similarly, preparation of flood model, flood height damage curve and flood vulnerable maps specific to the site will help decision makers to implement site specific adaptation options.


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