Valuing the Economic Benefits of Florida's Conservation Lands

摘要

The ecosystem service value provided by conservation lands can be a useful tool asgovernments evaluate conservation priorities. Therefore, the Florida StateDepartment of Environmental Protection requested a study building on a previouslyconducted one valuing some of the State’s 270 conservation areas. A benefittransfer valuation was conducted on 20 representative lands. Results indicated theconservation lands provided more than $5,340 per acre in ecosystem services.Although, these do not include every conservation area in Florida their dispersionthroughout the State suggest that the remaining 240 conservation areas may alsoprovide a high level of ecosystem services to the citizens of Florida. Further study isrecommended to value the remaining State’s protected areas.