Economic valuation of ecological functions and services of natural ecosystems : guide on the use of simple methods

This guide aims at making accessible the main concepts and methods of economic valuation of the monetary value of goods and services rendered by natural ecosystems in general. This text is designed for all actors involved in the economic valuation of ecological services. It was deliberately simplified in order to enable all economist and non-economist actors to take ownership of it. It allows quick understanding of the most commonly used economic valuation concepts and methods applied by natural ecosystem evaluators. It is not claiming to address all issues relating to the economic valuation of ecological services. However, it enables non specialists of environmental economics to understand the basic principles and to further engage in the application of economic valuation of ecosystems.