Valuing the ecosystem service changes from catchment restoration: A practical example from upland England

The application of ecosystem services to management requires simple approaches that can be applied with minimal data. We present a practical example of a low input approach for a small upland catchment. Two land management scenarios were developed in consultation with a group of partners with interest in management of the catchment. Currently, many habitats in the catchment are in poor ecological condition limiting the provision of some ecosystem services. The two scenarios were 'improve' (investments are made to deliver a balance of ecosystem services through habitat restoration and less intensive land management) and 'decline' (future ecological decline due to a general withdrawal of public investment in land management and applying only the minimum environmental regulations). The ecosystem service (dis-)benefits of each scenario were quantified and valued using two different value transfer approaches. The ecosystem services assessed were carbon storage, biodiversity (or wildlife value) and water quality. Both valuation approaches showed positive benefit-cost ratios for the 'improve' scenario and negative ratios for the 'decline' scenario. Even with this limited suite of ecosystem services the analysis provides a convincing case for investment in the catchment. The sensitivity of the analysis to assumptions made through the valuation is explored and improvements suggested.