Detailed Exploration of Ecosystem Service and Natural Capital Values of Urban and Rural Oregon
Start Date
3-16-2026 4:00 PM
End Date
3-16-2026 6:00 PM
Abstract
This poster submission expands on a complementary oral presentation submission and presents detailed tables and results maps of ecosystem service and natural capital values of urban and rural Oregon. Ecosystem services—the benefits people receive from nature—are often underrepresented in planning and policy, which can lead to decisions that erode long-term sustainability. We combine the Institute for Natural Resources’ Oregon statewide habitat map with the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) and apply value-transfer methods to estimate annual ecosystem service values across Oregon’s ecosystems. We report natural capital values by ecosystem type and county, and we disaggregate results to compare urban and rural ecosystem services, highlighting differences in service bundles and where benefits accrue. Across the state, we estimate a total median value of $136.1 billion per year in ecosystem benefits—more than 51% of Oregon’s $265.1 billion GDP. Per-hectare values are highest in coastal systems, urban green/blue infrastructure, and freshwater ecosystems, while regulating and cultural services account for a large share of value statewide. County-level patterns reflect land area, ecosystem composition, and land-use intensity, and we observe an inverse relationship between county GDP and total ecosystem service values. The poster will include detailed tables and high-resolution maps showing county- and ecosystem-level estimates, urban–rural comparisons, and key spatial patterns to inform land-use and environmental management decisions, including evaluation of Oregon’s urban growth boundary.
Subjects
Habitat assessment, Habitat restoration, Land/watershed management
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Detailed Exploration of Ecosystem Service and Natural Capital Values of Urban and Rural Oregon
This poster submission expands on a complementary oral presentation submission and presents detailed tables and results maps of ecosystem service and natural capital values of urban and rural Oregon. Ecosystem services—the benefits people receive from nature—are often underrepresented in planning and policy, which can lead to decisions that erode long-term sustainability. We combine the Institute for Natural Resources’ Oregon statewide habitat map with the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) and apply value-transfer methods to estimate annual ecosystem service values across Oregon’s ecosystems. We report natural capital values by ecosystem type and county, and we disaggregate results to compare urban and rural ecosystem services, highlighting differences in service bundles and where benefits accrue. Across the state, we estimate a total median value of $136.1 billion per year in ecosystem benefits—more than 51% of Oregon’s $265.1 billion GDP. Per-hectare values are highest in coastal systems, urban green/blue infrastructure, and freshwater ecosystems, while regulating and cultural services account for a large share of value statewide. County-level patterns reflect land area, ecosystem composition, and land-use intensity, and we observe an inverse relationship between county GDP and total ecosystem service values. The poster will include detailed tables and high-resolution maps showing county- and ecosystem-level estimates, urban–rural comparisons, and key spatial patterns to inform land-use and environmental management decisions, including evaluation of Oregon’s urban growth boundary.