A comparative analysis of ecosystem services valuation approaches for application at the local scale and in data scarce regions

Abstract

Despite significant advances in the development of the ecosystem services concept across the science and policy arenas, the valuation of ecosystem services to guide sustainable development remains challenging, especially at a local scale and in data scarce regions In this paper, we review and compare major past and current valuation approaches and discuss their key strengths and weaknesses for guiding policy decisions. This research was supported by the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme