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An Integrated Framework for the Instrumental Valuation of Nature
Author(s) -
Weesie Peter D. M.,
Van Andel Jelte
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
restoration ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1526-100X
pISSN - 1061-2971
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2007.00353.x
Subject(s) - anthropocentrism , valuation (finance) , ecosystem services , sustainability , ecosystem , environmental ethics , ecological economics , goods and services , ecosystem valuation , environmental resource management , ecology , economics , ecosystem health , biology , philosophy , economy , finance
Nature is most often valued in terms of its provision of ecosystem goods and services to meet human needs. However, such instrumental valuations, informed by ecological economics, are limited by the mainly anthropocentric orientation. We present a framework to assess anthropocentric and nonanthropocentric instrumental values of nature in a balanced way, in association with sustainability science. Particular attention is paid to ecosystem functions, to be valued both for their benefits to human beings and for their importance to the ecological and evolutionary functioning of the global ecosystem.