Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest Spain
Abstract Extremadura, located in the southwest of Spain, is a region of high natural value, supporting high levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, there is no comprehensive study that estimates the extent to which ecosystem services contribute to the main economic activities of the...
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| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Discover Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00822-9 |
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| author | Esteban Otto Thomasz Andrés Kasanzew Agustín García García |
| author_facet | Esteban Otto Thomasz Andrés Kasanzew Agustín García García |
| author_sort | Esteban Otto Thomasz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Extremadura, located in the southwest of Spain, is a region of high natural value, supporting high levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, there is no comprehensive study that estimates the extent to which ecosystem services contribute to the main economic activities of the region. In this context, the aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive economic estimation of the ecosystem services provided to the most important economic sectors in Extremadura (agriculture, livestock, forest, and recreational services). Different estimation methods were used given the variety of sectors involved, involving the direct market valuation, residual approach, replacement cost, travel expenditure, among others. The results show that the ecosystem services that have a direct impact on production levels represent 7.35% of the regional gross domestic product and 55% of the gross economic value of the related activities representing the potential production loss in the absence of these ecosystem services. This shows a great dependence of some economic activities on natural assets, of which the most important are the water used for irrigation, the Iberian breed, pollination, and grass for livestock. The economic valuation of ecosystem services is fundamental to sustainable development regional strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-adc074ccceab49cbbeeba62fda1aea0b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2662-9984 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-adc074ccceab49cbbeeba62fda1aea0b2025-08-20T02:43:15ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-02-016112710.1007/s43621-025-00822-9Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest SpainEsteban Otto Thomasz0Andrés Kasanzew1Agustín García García2Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de ExtremaduraFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de ExtremaduraFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de ExtremaduraAbstract Extremadura, located in the southwest of Spain, is a region of high natural value, supporting high levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, there is no comprehensive study that estimates the extent to which ecosystem services contribute to the main economic activities of the region. In this context, the aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive economic estimation of the ecosystem services provided to the most important economic sectors in Extremadura (agriculture, livestock, forest, and recreational services). Different estimation methods were used given the variety of sectors involved, involving the direct market valuation, residual approach, replacement cost, travel expenditure, among others. The results show that the ecosystem services that have a direct impact on production levels represent 7.35% of the regional gross domestic product and 55% of the gross economic value of the related activities representing the potential production loss in the absence of these ecosystem services. This shows a great dependence of some economic activities on natural assets, of which the most important are the water used for irrigation, the Iberian breed, pollination, and grass for livestock. The economic valuation of ecosystem services is fundamental to sustainable development regional strategies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00822-9Ecosystem servicesEconomic valuationProduction lossPublic data |
| spellingShingle | Esteban Otto Thomasz Andrés Kasanzew Agustín García García Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest Spain Discover Sustainability Ecosystem services Economic valuation Production loss Public data |
| title | Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest Spain |
| title_full | Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest Spain |
| title_fullStr | Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest Spain |
| title_short | Economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest Spain |
| title_sort | economic valuation of ecosystem services in southwest spain |
| topic | Ecosystem services Economic valuation Production loss Public data |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00822-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT estebanottothomasz economicvaluationofecosystemservicesinsouthwestspain AT andreskasanzew economicvaluationofecosystemservicesinsouthwestspain AT agustingarciagarcia economicvaluationofecosystemservicesinsouthwestspain |