1 environmental valuation databases koenraad van landeghem principal economist nsw department of...
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ENVIRONMENTAL
VALUATION DATABASES
Koenraad Van Landeghem
Principal Economist
NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change
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“Don’t you just have those numbers that you can pull out of a drawer?”
Waste Policy Officer
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Overview
1. Valuation databases
2. Envalue
3. EVRI
4. Evaluation of EVRI
5. Challenges for EVRI
6. Challenges for DECC
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VALUATION DATABASES
Usefulness & Purpose:
Consistent reporting of environmental valuation studies
Broadening access to environmental valuations (data
poor field)
Identifying studies relevant to user’s policy area
Facilitating benefits transfer
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Desirable criteria for Valuation Databases
Contains “local” estimates Ease of use (useability and access) Comprehensive
Details about the change being valued, including the characteristics of the natural resource and the base level of environmental quality
Information about the socio-demographics of the population at the site and their environmental preferences
Details about the extent of the market: how far away from the site were respondents identified who still valued the natural resource?
Detailed reporting of the study results
A thorough assessment and reporting of the validity of the study, including discussion of any methodological issues
Details about the precision of value estimates so that reliability can be assessed
Information that can be used to ascertain whether a conservative value estimate was produced for the study.
Allows transfer of functional relationships additional to values
[Adapted from Morrison, 2001 & Lantz & Slaney, 2005, etc.]
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Environmental Valuation Databases - OverviewName of Database
Web Host Purpose of the Database Regions Covered
Search function
Topic areas No of studies
Ecosystem Services Database
Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, USA
Economic values of ecosystem services
International Both free text and guided search options
300 +
Review of Externality Data
European Commission
Externalities produced from policies that have sustainable development at their core
International Both free text and guided search options
Industry; location; pollutant; receptor; quality of study; valuation method.
1200+
New Zealand Non-market Valuation Database
Lincoln University (New Zealand)
Non-market valuation studies that have been undertaken in New Zealand
New Zealand Multiple guided search options
Valuation Method; date of study; environmental theme; author; type of paper.
100 +
ValuebaseSwe Beijer International Institute of Ecological Economics, and the Swedish EPA
Survey of empirical economic valuation studies on environmental change in Sweden
Sweden Microsoft Excel
Built environment; water & air quality; forests; fish; natural lands; agriculture.
171
Beneficial use Values database
University of California, Davis
Economic values for beneficial uses of water resources
North America
Microsoft Access
Beneficial uses of water by the Californian State Water Board, USA.
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Envalue NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change
Promote greater access to and use of environmental values in decision-making
International Guided search only
Air, Water & Land quality; Noise; radiation; natural areas; amenity.
400+
Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory EVRI
Environment Canada Assist economists to use benefits transfer to value environmental services
International Both free text and guided search
Environmental service, asset or stressor; location; development status; economic measure
1900+
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Name of Database
Web Host Purpose of the Database Regions Covered
Search function
Topic areas No of studies
Review of Externality
Data
European Commission
To assist capturing the effect of externalities produced from new policies that have
sustainable development as their core concern.
International Both free text and guided
search options
Industry; location; pollutant; receptor;
quality of study; valuation method.
1200+
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Name of Database Web Host Purpose of the Database Regions Covered
Search functions
Topic areas No of studies
New Zealand Non-market Valuation Database
Lincoln University (New Zealand)
To help researchers identify non-market valuation studies that have been undertaken in New Zealand.
New Zealand
Multiple guided search options
Valuation Method; date of study; environmental theme; author; type of paper.
100 +
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Name of Database
Web Host Purpose of the Database Regions Covered
Search functions
Topic areas No of studies
ValuebaseSwe Beijer International Institute of Ecological Economics, and the Swedish EPA
To provide a survey of empirical economic valuation studies on environmental change in Sweden.
Sweden Microsoft Excel
Built environment; water quality; forests; air quality; fish; natural lands; agriculture.
171
http://www.beijer.kva.se/valuebase.htm
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Name of Database
Web Host Purpose of the Database Regions Covered
Search functions
Topic areas No of studies
Beneficial use Values database
University of California, Davis
To provide an educational and informational tool to those interested in documenting the economic values for beneficial uses of water resources
North America
Microsoft Access
Beneficial uses of water by the Californian State Water Board, USA.
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Valuation Databases - alternatives
Name of Database
Web Host Purpose of the Database
Regions Covered
Search function Topic areas No of studies
EconLit American Economics Association
Compiled to display abstracts from 30 years of economic literature (not valuation specific)
International Free text Studies relevant to Economics (including valuation of environment)
400,000+ (general) 1600+ (environment)
EconPapers Department of Business, Economics, Statistics and Informatics (Örebro University)
Data provided by RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) to enhance the dissemination of research in economics
International Free text & guided search by author and type of paper.
General Economics articles (including environmental & resource economics)
545,000+ (general economics)
Biodiversity Economics
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) & World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
To encourage and assist the use of economics in support of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
International Free text & Guided search option
Concepts in valuing biodiversity; actual valuations; valuation methods; indicators; EIA & SEA.
276 +
Environmental Valuation & Cost Benefit News
The Cost Benefit Group LLC (private consultants)
To promote the incorporation of environmental values into decision-making
International (mainly USA)
Free-text and guided (environmental medium, location, contaminant, and type of study)
Environmental and Natural Resource economics
12,000
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What is Envalue?
Internet database of valuation studies on environment and health: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/envalue/
Currently, ~ 400 study records or study summaries that can be easily searched
Envalue design facilitates benefits transfer, which is the transfer of values from “study site” to policy site”.
- Design of records facilitates matching; quality checks; selecting values
- Structured search allows for quick location of studies
Free site – no subscription required
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Envalue Records
Records are broken into categories and sub-categories called fields where data and information is entered:
- Basic scope of the study
- Key Results: currency, year, values
- Annotated Bibliography:
Reference
Valuation technique
Socio-economic characteristics
Environmental Good / Service measured
Comments / summary
Evaluation of the study
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Envalue
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Envalue - Information Reported
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Envalue Information Reported (continued)
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Envalue - Problems encountered
• Cost of software upgrades
• Cost of uploading additional studies
• Last update (3 articles) in 2006
• Studies becoming out-dated as a result of the above
DECC was looking for an alternative way to provide a similar service to Australians…
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Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory (EVRI)
EVRI Sponsors:
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What is EVRI?
Internet Infobase of valuation studies on environment and health: http//www.evri.ca
Currently, ~ 1,900 study records or study summaries that can be easily searched
EVRI design facilitates benefits transfer, which is the transfer of values from “study site” to policy site”.
- Design of records facilitates matching; quality checks; selecting values
- Search engines allows for quick location of studies
Free site to U.S., U.K., France, Canada and Australia
Bilingual site
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DECC external promotion of EVRI
Promote greater Australian use of EVRI
- DECC Media Release
- Advertisements in various e-newsletters, AARES, DECC etc
- Group e-mails to distribution list
- Links to EVRI from websites, e.g. libraries, Govt Departments
- Conferences: distribute EVRI posters and flyers
- Link from ‘Envalue’ entry-page
Increase Australian content:
- Encouraging Australian authors to up-load their articles to EVRI
- List of relevant Australian literature sent to Environment Canada for consideration
- DECC evaluation will identify potential for increased relevance to Australian users
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EVRI Records
Records are broken into categories and sub-categories called fields where data and information is entered:
- Study Reference
- Study Area and Population
- Environmental Focus of Study
- Study Methods
- Estimated Values
- Abstract
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EVRI records by category
Environmental Asset Number of Records
Water (general) 943
Animals (general) 939
Land (general) 692
Plants 425
Human (health or capital) 335
Air 268
Infrastructure/Produced 203
Micro-organisms 9
*More than one category may have been identified for each record.
As of March 2007
EVRI Database Breakdown
Studies in EVRI by Country*
Country Percentage
United States 47%
United Kingdom 12%
Canada 11%
Nordic Countries 10%
France 3%
Australia 2%
Non-Member Countries 15%
As of March 31, 2007
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EVRI – information reported
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EVRI – information reported (cont’d)
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EVRI – information reported (cont’d)
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Evaluation of EVRI and Envalue
DECC’s activities:
1. Literature Review
2. Cost-Benefit Analysis
3. Web-statistics
4. Australian user survey
Monthly Visits to Envalue website minus Monthly visits to EVRI website [NB: visits to ‘EVRI’ just include Australian visitors, whereas visits to ‘Envalue’ also include international visitors]
Monthly Visits to EVRI
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Jul-0
6
Aug
-06
Sep
-06
Oct
-06
Nov
-06
Dec
-06
Jan-
07
Feb
-07
Mar
-07
Apr
-07
May
-07
Jun-
07
Jul-0
7
Aug
-07
Sep
-07
Vis
its
Monthly visits to 'Envalue' minus monthly visits to 'EVRI'
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
Jul-0
6
Aug
-06
Sep
-06
Oct
-06
Nov
-06
Dec
-06
Jan-
07
Feb
-07
Mar
-07
Apr
-07
May
-07
Jun-
07
Jul-0
7
Aug
-07
Sep
-07
Monthly visits to EVRI website by Australians
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Evaluation of EVRI (cont’d)
Environment Canada’s activities:
1. Independent 3rd Party Review
2. Australian Representative on EC’s Evaluation Committee
3. User perception of EVRI & potential for improvementMember Country (excluding USA): EVRI visits per month
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Sep-06
Oct-06
Nov-06
Dec-06
Jan-07
Feb-07
Mar-07
Apr-07
May-07
Jun-07
Jul-07
Aug-07
Sep-07
Vis
its
Canada
United Kingdom
France
Australia
US visits to EVRI average about 4000 per month
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Challenges for EVRI
Improved reporting
Access to original studies
Range of available studies
Member countries
Objectives of EC
- Facilitate benefits transfer
- Capture more valuation studies
- Keep database content current
- Market and distribute to promote benefits transfers in as many countries as possible.
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Challenges to DECC / Australia
More Australian studies
- Limitation to Australian Policy relevance
- Slow progress in uploading further studies
- International Benefits Transfer (limitation?)
Cumulative Australian studies in EVRI
05
101520253035404550
1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Continued funding
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Articles Reviewing Valuation Databases
1. Navrud, S., Vagnes, M., (2000), Assessment of EVRI and the Expansion of its Coverage to the EU, Report to the European Comission, DG, XI.
2. Morrison 2001, Non-market Valuation Databases: How Useful Are They?, Economic Analysis and Policy, v. 31, Iss. 1, pp. 33-56
3. Van Lantz & Greg Slaney 2005, An Evaluation of Environmental Valuation Databases around the World, Presented at workshop in Washington entitled “Benefits Transfer and Valuation Databases: Are We Heading in the Right Direction?”
4. White, J., 2005, Envalue and Benefits Transfer in Australia, [Washington workshop].
5. McComb, Lantz, Nash & Rittmaster, 2006, International valuation databases: Overview, methods and operational issues, Ecological Economics, 60, pp. 461-472
6. Villa, Ceroni, & Krivov, 2007, Intelligent Databases Assist Transparent and Sound Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services, Environmental Management, Vol. 39 Issue 6, p887-899
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Valuation Databases
• EVRI – http://www.evri.ca
• Envalue - http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/envalue/
• Ecosystem Services Database (ESD) - http://esd.uvm.edu/
• Review of Externality Database (RED) - http://www.red-externalities.net/
• New Zealand Non Market Valuation Database - http://oldlearn.lincoln.ac.nz/markval/
• ValuebaseSwe - http://www.beijer.kva.se/valuebase.htm
• Beneficial Use Values Database - http://buvd.ucdavis.edu/buvd/index.htm
• EconPapers - http://econpapers.repec.org/
• Biodiversity Economics - http://www.biodiversityeconomics.org/
• Environmental & Cost Benefit Analysis News - http://envirovaluation.org/