What is the value of a state? Accounting for the ecosystem service and natural capital values of Oregon
Start Date
3-16-2026 3:00 PM
End Date
3-16-2026 3:09 PM
Abstract
Ecosystem services are vital to human welfare, but often overlooked in planning and policy. By neglecting to incorporate the benefits received from natural resources, policy makers may unknowingly make decisions that harm the long-term sustainability and use of these services. We used the Institute for Natural Resources’ Oregon statewide habitat map and the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD), and value transfer methodology to calculate a range of ecosystem service values for each Oregon ecosystem and its services. We provide an estimate of the total value of Oregon’s natural capital, by county and by ecosystem. We find a total median value of $136.1 billion/yr in ecosystem benefits to Oregon, >51% of the state’s GDP ($265.1 billion). Coastal systems, urban green and blue infrastructure, and freshwater systems—e.g.: rivers and lakes—were found to contribute the highest per hectare values; air quality regulation, maintenance of soil fertility, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and moderation of extreme events were the highest value services. Spatial patterns of median annual values across Oregon counties revealed notable geographic patterns shaped largely by land area, ecosystem type, and land use intensity, and an inverse relationship between county GDP and total ecosystem service values: counties with lower GDP had higher ecosystem service values. The monetary values presented in this study can be used as a starting point for integrating the value of nature into land use and environmental management policy, allowing for more informed decision making that promotes the long- term sustainability of Oregon’s resources.
Subjects
Conservation biology, Economics, Environmental policy, Land use planning, Land/watershed management, Sustainable development
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.
What is the value of a state? Accounting for the ecosystem service and natural capital values of Oregon
Ecosystem services are vital to human welfare, but often overlooked in planning and policy. By neglecting to incorporate the benefits received from natural resources, policy makers may unknowingly make decisions that harm the long-term sustainability and use of these services. We used the Institute for Natural Resources’ Oregon statewide habitat map and the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD), and value transfer methodology to calculate a range of ecosystem service values for each Oregon ecosystem and its services. We provide an estimate of the total value of Oregon’s natural capital, by county and by ecosystem. We find a total median value of $136.1 billion/yr in ecosystem benefits to Oregon, >51% of the state’s GDP ($265.1 billion). Coastal systems, urban green and blue infrastructure, and freshwater systems—e.g.: rivers and lakes—were found to contribute the highest per hectare values; air quality regulation, maintenance of soil fertility, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and moderation of extreme events were the highest value services. Spatial patterns of median annual values across Oregon counties revealed notable geographic patterns shaped largely by land area, ecosystem type, and land use intensity, and an inverse relationship between county GDP and total ecosystem service values: counties with lower GDP had higher ecosystem service values. The monetary values presented in this study can be used as a starting point for integrating the value of nature into land use and environmental management policy, allowing for more informed decision making that promotes the long- term sustainability of Oregon’s resources.