Date post: | 18-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | lorin-preston |
View: | 216 times |
Download: | 3 times |
The Wealth of Naturein Indian River County
David L. CoxCox Consulting
Vero Beach, Florida
Future Benefits?
Is purchasing environmental landsa good investment for the future?
What are the returns on this investment?
Three Kinds of Benefits
Critters Cash
Kids
Cash
Can we get concrete estimates of the benefits of land acquisition, say in terms of currency?
Green Infrastructure
A system of conservation core areas,buffers, and corridors to maintain ecosystem health, to assure watersupplies, and to provide for wildlifehabitat, recreation and open space.
Adapted from Lois Bush, FDOT,Sustainable TC Mapping Series, 2004.
Ecological Economics
Places value on ecosystems - in terms of currency - so that we canbetter understand the benefits and costs of how we manage nature.
Ecological Economics
Views nature as “natural capital” which generates goods and services.
These “ecosystem services” are criticalto Earth’s life-support system,and are the basis of our welfare.
Ecosystem Services
Water Regulation Hydrological flows for ag/industry
Habitat Refugia Nurseries, migratory species habitat, etc.
Water Supply Storage and retention of water
Disturbance Regulation Flood control, storm protection
Nutrient Cycling Storage, processing, cycling of nutrients
Recreation/Cultural Ecotourism, sport fishing, education, etc.
Waste Treatment Water purification, pollutant removal
Ecosystem Services
Food Production Agricultural crops, fish & game
Gas Regulation Control of atmospheric composition
Raw Material Fiber, timber & fuel production
Biological Control Keystone predator control of prey
Climate Regulation Greenhouse gas regulation
Pollination Reproduction of plant populations
Soil Formation Weathering, bioaccumulation of organics
Estimated Value of Annual Ecosystem Services: All County Lands
$236,771,197
$66,049,251
$78,250,770
$245,595,759
$170,298,617
$58,174,335
Water Regulation
Habitat Refugia
Food Production
Gas Regulation
Water Supply
Disturbance Regulation
Nutrient Cycling
Recreation/Cultural
Waste Treatment
Raw Material
Biological Control
Climate Regulation
Pollination
Soil Formation
Total Value: $855,140,000
Estimated Value of Annual Ecosystem Services: County Environmental
Lands
$2,351,190
$1,830,640
$2,659,535
$172,224
$7,325,749
$7,615,575
Water Regulation
Waste Treatment
Food Production
Gas Regulation
Water Supply
Disturbance Regulation
Climate Regulation
Recreation/Cultural
Nutrient Cycling
Raw Material
Biological Control
Climate Regulation
Pollination
Soil Formation
Total Value: $23,476,000
Value of Annual Ecosystem Services for
Indian River County: By Ecosystem
All County Lands
$30,598,243
$4,382,473
$15,193,594
$5,606,003
$6,750,798
$498,742$24,087,000
$150,693,500
$617,329,576
Coastal Strand
Indian River Lagoon
Seagrass Beds
Reefs
Estuarine Wetlands
Freshwater Wetlands
Forests, Scrub & Ruderal
Lakes & Rivers
Agricultural
Total Value: $855,140,000
Value of Annual Ecosystem Services for
Indian River County: By Ecosystem
County Environmental Lands
$31,000
$19,643,000
$606,000 $2,846,000
Coastal Strand
Indian River Lagoon
Seagrass Beds
Reefs
Estuarine Wetlands
Freshwater Wetlands
Forests, Scrub & Ruderal
Lakes & Rivers
Agricultural
Total Value: $23,476,000
Value of Annual Ecosystem Services for
Indian River County: By Ecosystem
All Public Lands
$24,087,000
$150,693,500
$4,382,473
$30,598,243
$1,244,759
$554,151,344
$31,057$3,305,088
Coastal Strand
Indian River Lagoon
Seagrass Beds
Reefs
Estuarine Wetlands
Freshwater Wetlands
Forests, Scrub & Ruderal
Lakes & Rivers
Agricultural
Total Value: $768,500,000
Value of Annual Ecosystem Services for
Indian River County: By Ecosystem
Values in $1000’s
0 250,000 500,000 750,000 1,000,000
Value/Year for AllLands
Value/Year for AllPublic Lands
Value/Year forCounty Acquired
Lands Coastal Strand
Indian River Lagoon
Seagrass Beds
Reefs
Estuarine Wetlands
Freshwater Wetlands
Forests, Scrub & Ruderal
Lakes & Rivers
Agricultural
Indian River County Environmental Lands
Estimated Program Costs
Total land acquisition costs, federal, state and local $56,000,000
Lost tax revenue (over 15 yr. bond) $5,819,775
Improvements $1,160,000
Future bond interest expense $3,100,000
Maintenance & staff $1,800,000
Total Program Costs over 15 yrs. $67,879,775
Indian River County Environmental Lands
Estimated Program Benefits
Value of ecosystem services over 15 yrs. ($23,476,000 x 15) $352,140,000
Total program costs, 15 yrs. $67,879,775
Return on investment 519%
Ecological Economics
What can a tool like this be used for?
Future Uses
• Evaluate enviroland acquisitions• Estimate value of restoration projects• Estimate value of “open space”• Evaluate agricultural lands• Project planning & decision-support• Assessment of sustainability