IP04 Valuation of Ecological Resources
B115 & B116
1:20 PM - 4:40 PM, Monday
(IP030) Extending HEA to the Landscape: Landscape Equivalency Analysis.
Bruggeman, D1, Jones, M1, Lupi, F1, Scribner, K1, 1 Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
ABSTRACT- Habitat Equivalency Analysis (HEA) is a common ecological-economic tool used to trade ecological resources based on service flows provided. We propose Landscape Equivalency Analysis (LEA) as a method to trade ecological resources based on service flows known to be affected by the spatial structure of the landscape mosaic. Landscape spatial structure results in habitats that vary in their contribution to ecological services. Therefore, some habitat patches will have greater conservation value than others, measured as marginal changes in discounted Landscape Service Years. These patches will also differ in economic value. The differences in ecological-economic costs and benefits leads to profitable opportunity for trading of habitat patches. LEA provides a common currency that can be used to make these trades. LEA will be presented in the context of Conservation Banking for endangered species. The service flows consider when trading habitat patches within a metapopulation include abundance and genetic variance. LEA provides a method to establish tradable permit system to minimize the negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on populations.
Key words: genetic variance, spatial context, metapopulation, endangered species