International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Estimating the Cost of Environmental Degradation

The following chapters describe a wide range of economic valuation techniques used to estimate the benefits of policies or projects yielding environmental improvements. It keeps technical jargon to a minimum and is intended as an introduction to the subject for project task managers, policy makers, businessmen, and NGO officials dealing with environmental management issues. The guide addresses the following questions: § When is a valuation technique a useful tool for decision-making? § What is the theoretical basis of economic valuation? § What are the technical and human resources needed to engage in a valuation process? § How is valuation used in practice? Economic valuation of environmental and natural resources has benefited from a growing body of academic literature, but the use of such valuation in policy making is far from pervasive, particularly in developing countries where the difficult tradeoff between growth and the environment creates opportunities for its use.

07 Mar 2010

Estimating the Cost of Environmental Degradation.pdf

Economic Valuation
Other