Ecosystem services, such as pollination, water purification, and extreme weather protection, crucial for human well-being, are often undervalued in applied economic analyses such as cost-benefit analysis (CBA). This oversight can lead to project risks and negative ecological impacts. Under the BRIDGE (Biodiversity Results and Integrated Development Gains Enhanced) project, the USAID Office of Forestry and Biodiversity explored the use of ecosystem service valuations in Agency CBAs.
Limestone partnered with the Conservation Strategy Fund to develop comprehensive guidelines for USAID and its CBA practitioners. The core of the resulting report outlines a set of practical steps for CBA practitioners for identifying, screening, valuing, and analyzing the interactions between an intervention and ecosystem services. These guidelines also provide practical suggestions for communicating results under uncertainty. These recommendations aim to enhance the incorporation of ecosystem service valuations into Agency CBAs, ultimately improving development and environmental outcomes.
The full report can be accessed here.
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