Economia ecologica

A TYPOLOGY FOR THE CLASSIFICATION, DESCRIPTION AND VALUATION OF ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS, GOODS AND SERVICES
Accepted for publication in Ecological Economics (May 2002) (Special Issue on “The Dynamics and Value of Ecosystem Services: Integrating Economic and Ecological Perspectives”)
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Rudolf S. de Groot

1,

, Matthew A. Wilson and Roelof M. J. Boumans
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1. International Centre forIntegrative Studies (ICIS), Maastricht University & Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. 2. University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Studies, Institute for Ecological Economics, USA.

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_________________ Abstract An increasing amount of information is being collected on the ecologicaland socio-economic value of goods and services provided by natural and semi-natural ecosystems. However, much of this information appears scattered throughout a disciplinary academic literature, unpublished government agency reports, and across the World Wide Web. In addition, data on ecosystem goods and services often appears at incompatible scales of analysis and is classified differently bydifferent authors. In order to make comparative ecological economic analysis possible, a standardized framework for the comprehensive assessment of ecosystem functions, goods and services is needed. In response to this challenge, this paper presents a conceptual framework and typology for describing, classifying and valuing ecosystem functions, goods and services in a clear and consistent manner. Inthe following analysis, a classification is given for the fullest possible range of 23 ecosystem functions which provide a much larger number of goods and services. In the second part of the paper, a checklist and matrix is provided, linking these ecosystem functions to the main ecological, socio-cultural and economic valuation methods. ______________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: classification of ecosystem functions, typology of goods and services; ecological and socio-economic valuation

1.

Introduction
In the past few decades, the field of ecological economics has witnessed a spectacular rise of

concern with the valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services. Early references to the
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Corresponding author. ICIS, PO Box616, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, Email: d.degroot@icis.unimaas.nl

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concept of ecosystem functions, services and their economic value date back to the mid-1960`s and early 1970’s (e.g. King 1966; Helliwell 1969; Hueting 1970; Odum & Odum 1972). More recently, there has been an almost exponential growth in publications on the benefits of natural ecosystems to human society (see for example,Pearce, 1993, Turner, 1993, De Groot, 1992, 1994; Bingham et. al. 1995, Daily 1997; Costanza et al. 1997; Pimentel & Wilson, 1997, Limburg & Folke, 1999, Wilson & Carpenter 1999; Daily et al. 2000). Despite the increase in publications on ecosystem goods and services, a systematic typology and comprehensive framework for integrated assessment and valuation of ecosystem functions remains elusive. Thispaper therefore aims to provide such an integrated framework, of which the main elements are presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1:

Framework for Integrated Assessment and Valuation of Ecosystem Functions, Goods and Services

Ecosystem Structure & Process

Ecological Values Based on ecological sustainability
Decision making process to determine policy options & management measures

`Ecosystem Functions
1. Regulation 2. Habitat 3. Production 4. Information

Ecosystem Goods & Services

Socio-cultural values Based on equity and cultural perceptions

Total Value *

Economic Values Based on efficiency and costeffectiveness

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The problem of aggregation and weighing of different values in the decision making process is an important issue, but is not the subject of this...