Maine receives more than $14 billion each year in uncounted economic benefits from its natural environment, according to a study recently released by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.
The report, Valuing Maine’s Natural Capital, was conducted in collaboration with Spatial Informatics Group, LLC. Researchers examined the unrealized value in Maine’s natural resources and excluded products and services that are already traded on the marketplace such as lumber or lobster.
The report assessed the value of:
- scenic beauty,
- disturbance regulation (e.g., flood control provided by floodplains),
- atmospheric regulation (e.g., forest capacity to absorb greenhouse gases),
- wildlife habitat,
- nutrient regulation (e.g., wetlands’ ability to filter/prevent pollution),
- pollination and seeding of crops and forests,
- recreation opportunities,
- maintenance of healthy soils, and
- water supply and regulation through groundwater recharge.
“We wanted to draw attention to the significant unrecognized value of Maine’s ecosystems,” said Manomet Senior Program Leader John Gunn in a prepared statement. “Nature plays a huge role in our economy. When we make decisions in Maine, we need a better way to incorporate the value of natural resources.”
To access an executive summary of the report, please visit:
To access the complete report, please visit:
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences: Valuing Maine’s Natural Capital (April 2012)
Media report:
Background information:
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