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Approaches for Incorporating Ecosystem Goods & Services in US Army Corps Planning and Benefits Evaluation* Lisa A. Wainger1, Hannah Griscom1 , Elizabeth Murray2, and Janet A. Cushing3 1 University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science 2 Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center 3 US Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources

ACES, December 13, 2012

* Material represents ongoing work & should not be cited

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Issues Addressed US Army Corps is under

increasing pressure to justify Ecosystem Restoration projects

– ‘Habitat units’ do not adequately capture all ecological and socio-economic values of projects

Previous attempts by Districts to use ecosystem services in planning studies have been inconsistent and not successful

Off-the-shelf tools to quantify Ecosystem Goods and Services have not been assessed to see if they meet the Corps’ planning needs

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Ecosystem Goods & Services Relation to Corps Mission & Stakeholder Goals

Ecosystem Services Corps Mission Goals Local Stakeholder Goals

Ecosystem Sustainability Water Supply & Regulation Natural Hazard Mitigation

Navigation Recreation Cultural, Spiritual & Education Aesthetics

Food Provisioning Raw Goods & Materials Provisioning Climate Regulation Water Quality Human Health

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What could an EGS analysis contribute?

1. Capability to account for full range of ecological benefits & losses from ecological restoration & other projects

2. Improved project design and decision-making based on more holistic suite of ecological considerations

3. Enhanced communication of ecological changes in terms of socially meaningful outcomes

4. More consistency of EGS reporting nationally

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Connection between EGS Approach and the 6-Step Process

Corps Planning

Problems & Oppor-tunities

Inventory & Forecast

Formulate Plans

Evaluate Plans

Compare Plans

Select Plan

EGS Steps

Identify Affected EGS

Model EGS changes without project

Report EGS benefits of selected plans

Model alternatives and apply results, if appropriate

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Determining Ecosystem-Derived Economic Benefits from Projects

1. Management

Activity 2. Ecological

Outcomes

3. Ecosystem Goods & Services

4. Social Benefits

A. Response Function

B. Ecoservice Production Function

C. Benefit / Damage Function

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Example Conceptual Model for Valuing Benefits

1. Increase channel sinuosity

2. Expansion of shallow and deep-water habitat

3. Improved catch rates

4. Willingness to pay for improved catch rates

A. Model habitat improvements

B. Model expected changes in fishing availability

C. Model economic value of change (e.g., Random Utility Model)

2. Increase in game fish density

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Example Conceptual Model when Using Benefit Indicators

1. Increase channel sinuosity

2. Expansion of shallow and deep-water habitat

3. Potential EGS Metrics: • Number of accessible

& productive fishing sites (recreational fishing)

• Ecosystem

Sustainability (derived from diversity)

A. Model habitat improvements

B. Model expected changes in multiple system qualities

2. Expected species diversity

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Some of the Concepts Incorporated in Framework

1. Distinguish between ecological features or processes and the beneficial outcomes to people

– Robust models link measured ecological outcomes to things people care about

– Outcome metrics reflect specific user needs & preferences – Use monetization only where it makes sense

2. Measure changes due to project 3. Consider restoration probability of success

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Corps Approach to Demonstrate Appreciation for Passive Use Services

Covered by law = Institutional Significance – E.g., Endangered Species Act

People care = Public Significance – E.g., Non-governmental groups target this EGS

Experts have scientific reasons to think it is important = Technical Significance

– E.g., Conservation priorities

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Opportunities for Visualizing and Standardizing Technical Significance Criteria

– Many conservation priority datasets now easily accessible via web.

– Datasets incorporate many Corps criteria such as scarcity, trend, species richness & endemism, threats & viability.

– Provides context of national priorities.

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Measuring Changes due to Project Non-linearity in Restoration-Response Functions

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Degraded Intact

% function 100

100 0 ∆10 ∆10

∆4

∆20

% Stress Removed

Habitat

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Quantifying Economic Benefits Relative to a Baseline

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Wildlife Viewing Benefits

Invasive Cover and Time 20 years

With management

No action

% max benefits

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Calculating Risk-Adjusted Benefits

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Wildlife Viewing Risk-Adjusted Benefits

20 years Invasive Cover and Time

With management

No action

% max benefits

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Key to Success: Streamline Implementation

ESG analysis would be seemlessly integrated into the pre-existing process in order to meet tight deadlines

Data and models to quantify EGS and identify potential for social benefits will need to be cost-effective - to be used

Tools will need to be scalable by project size and need – E.g., For small projects – Modifying existing metrics to better

represent user/beneficiary preferences

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Next Steps

Demonstrate that EGS analysis is tractable and adds value to the existing planning process

Demonstrate that approaches, tools or models are acceptable and useful

– EGS model review completed

EGS analysis tools will need to pass Corps review for direct use in designing restoration

Tools to communicate benefits to stakeholders can cover a wide range of EGS and have more flexibility in requirements