Abstract

Evaluation of ecosystem services involves two types of linked analyses. The first is biophysical analysis—associated with ecology, hydrology, and the other natural sciences—that describes ecological conditions, and changes in those conditions, resulting from environmental management, stresses, and protection. The second is economic analysis to measure and communicate the social benefit or cost of those ecological changes. Spatial analysis is important to both types of evaluation, as are ecological outcome measures that facilitate the interpretation of ecological changes by communities, households, and other stakeholders.