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Ecosystem Service Valuation: Development and Implementation of a Landscape-Based Assessment Methodology
Matthew A. Wilson, Institute for Ecological Economics This project draws from recent developments in the economic valuation of ecosystem services, ecological economic database design, and GIS-based techniques to develop a fully customized, landscape-based ecosystem value assessment protocol for the State of Maryland. Three goals guide our research: (1) use the best available economic methods and data sources to customize a valuation methodology for assessing ecosystem services in Maryland; (2) create a flexible, web-based user interface that allows the end-users to conduct value assessments of selected landscape features at multiple spatial scales in a fully 'data transparent' environment; and (3) design and calibrate a value 'weighting' function that will provide end-users with increased estimation sensitivity to ecologically relevant landscape parameters. The end result will be a landscape assessment tool capable of generating reliable value estimates that can then be integrated into Green Infrastructure, watershed, forest land and power industry infrastructure planning in the State of Maryland.
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