The economic value of Canada's National Capital Green Network.

The lack of information on the value of ecosystems contributing to human well-being in urban and peri-urban setting is known to contribute to the degradation of natural capital and ecosystem services (ES). The purpose of this study was to determine the economic value of ES in Canada's Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau region), so that these values can be integrated in future planning decisions. Using the valuation methods of market pricing, cost replacement, and two benefit transfer approaches (with adjustment and with meta-analysis), the value of 13 ES from five ecosystems (forests, wetlands, croplands, prairies and grasslands, and freshwater systems) was measured. The annual economic value of these 13 ES amounts to an average of 332 million dollars, and to a total economic value of over 5 billion dollars, annualized over 20 years. The largest part of this value is generated by nonmarket ES, indicating that much more emphasis should be put on the management, preservation, and understanding of processes that make up these types of ES. The work generated as part of this study is a first step towards operationalizing the concept of ES in planning. More specifically, these results can be used to raise awareness, but also as a stepping stone to improve ecosystem-wide planning in the Canada's Capital Region.

Measuring Recreation Benefit Loss under Climate Change with Revealed and Stated Behavior Data: The Case of Lac Saint-Pierre World Biosphere Reserve (Québec, Canada).

Based on a case study carried out on the Lac Saint-Pierre (LSP) World Biosphere Reserve (Québec, Canada), this paper estimates ecosystem service loss, more precisely the loss related to cultural and recreational activities of the LSP due to the fall of its water level under the pressure of climate change. We measure two dimensions of this loss. As a first step, the extrapolation of our representative survey reports $100 million annual loss in terms of recreation revenue due to the trip reduction to LSP, which is about 60% of current level. Subsequently, the travel-cost data and the contingent behavior data are combined in a revealed and stated behavior panel random-effect estimation, which reports an additional loss measured by consumer surplus that visitors can obtain from their trips up to $232 million, signifying 42% of reduction in their current value.

Understanding the preferences of water users in a context of cyanobacterial blooms in Quebec.

Algal blooms, whether they are harmful or more akin to a nuisance, do pose negative impacts on human well-being. In the province of Quebec, excessive phosphorus that contributes to the problem of cyanobacterial blooms comes mainly from non-point sources. Limited regulation on the management of this nutrient leads to its strong accumulation in soils and, combined to climate change effects, contributes to increasing the magnitude of the effects of algal blooms on humans and the environment. The presence of cyanobacteria in water has impacts on its colour, texture and odour, in addition to posing threats to the health of recreationists, as some cyanobacteria are known to release toxins during blooms. This research focuses on studying the impacts of algal bloom events on recreationists and people living close to affected waterbodies. More specifically, we explore the preferences of individuals for different ecosystem services (ES), mainly cultural ES, provided by waterbodies (i.e., recreational activities, aesthetic aspects, and ecological health). We also estimate the average willingness to pay, financed through an increase in municipal taxation, for mechanisms that would allow the resolution of this issue. To achieve these objectives, we use a choice experiment approach, enclosed in a questionnaire that was carried out in person to 252 people. Conditional logit with and without interactions, and a random parameter logit (mixed logit) are alternatively used. Results show that individuals value first their ability to perform recreational activities, followed by the ecological health of waterbodies, and the aesthetic aspects (i.e., odour and visual aspects). Interestingly, the fact that people reported taking part in fishing activities influenced the way they prioritized ES in the choice modelling exercises. Based on the most robust model, we estimate the average willingness to pay at CA$353/household per year to fund a suite of solutions aimed at improving overall water quality.

Dataset on marine ecosystem services supplied by coral reefs, sandy beaches and coastal lagoons in different eutrophication states.

This data article provides indicators of Ecosystem Service (ES) supply for coral reefs, sandy beaches and coastal lagoons in different ecological states regarding eutrophication. 14 ES are considered: food through fisheries; material; molecules; coastal protection; nutrient regulation; pathogen regulation; climate regulation; support of recreational and leisure activities; contribution to a pleasant landscape; contribution to culture and territorial identity; emblematic biodiversity; habitat; trophic networks; recruitment. For each ecosystem 3 to 4 eutrophication states are described. Indicators of ES supply are filled on the basis of a literature review supplemented with expert-knowledge. A semi-quantification of the indicator value is finally provided. Tendencies and trade-offs between ES are analyzed in How does eutrophication impact bundles of ecosystem services in multiple coastal habitats using state-and-transition models [1].