The green infrastructure valuation toolkit user guide

Building natural value for sustainable economic development: the green infrastructure valuation toolkit user guide
QUANTIFYING
Eftec’s study on undeveloped land 144 includes figures for ‘ecology’
which may be applicable (but care is needed to avoid double-counting
Some quantification of benefits can be linked to national biodiversity targets within
the other benefits included)
the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, translated into local BAP Plans.
• Status – Designation: European site (SAC/SPA), SSSI, Local Wildlife Site,
research undertaken to inform agri-environment policy 145 places a
LNR, Identified Biodiversity Opportunity (from biodiversity opportunities
monetary figure of £906 (1999 prices) per hectare on biodiversity, an
map). With Local Wildlife sites there is a link to NI197 and DCLG guidance
average estimated willingness to pay from a variety of studies.
for local authority monitoring
However, these values depend on how biodiversity is defined.. Values elicited by
• BAP Habitat - contribution to National BAP target (and potentially regional
respondents to willingness to pay surveys will also strongly reflect the extent to
BAP target). Some targets area based on area (Ha) which gives a
which they believe the particular habitat being valued is under threat. If they
quantitative measure
perceive little or no threat, the value they offer is likely to be low. If they are aware
of a real or present danger, then the value is likely to be significantly higher.
• BAP Species contribution – potential for supporting a species from the
BAP list, located within
• Support for protected species – as above for protected species.
• Ecological network contribution – contribution to an identified
Ecological Network/Framework area
• Broad (local) ecological value – potential to develop ways of recognising
the broader ecological value of a proposal in supporting local biodiversity,
including improving access to nature, contact with wildlife and support for
local species.
MONETISING
Biodiversity is generally treated as a non-use value, based on research studies
into individuals’ willingness to pay* to protect and maintain particular habitats or
species - which they may never themselves see.
The evidence base is stronger for designated areas – for example national parks,
Natura 2000 sites, SSSIs - than for non-designated sites such as parkland and
other green space.
Values for designated areas vary greatly:
Jacobs cites a willingness to pay value of £0.41 to £1.14 per
household per year for preserving or creating individual SSSIs 141
another study estimates a value of £12.29 per person per year for
preservation of the Norfolk Broads. 142
There is less valuation evidence for other, non-designated sites:
research on woodland and forestry gives biodiversity values of £0.33
(lowland conifer) to £0.90 (upland native broadleaf) per household per
year for an increase in 12,000 hectares of commercial woodland 143
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