Research History

1998 Estimation of the Value of Ecosystem Services in the Waikato Region - $9,000

The objective of this pilot study was to provide a first estimate of the economic value of ecosystem services in the Waikato Region for the 1997 calendar year. The methodology and classification system, derived by Costanza et al. (1997), was used. In this initial study much data was drawn from overseas literature and had to be adjusted for the Waikato. As such, the study uses a rapid assessment methodology, which needs to make a number of working assumptions and judgements about the use of surrogate data.

It was estimated that the total value of ecosystem services in the Waikato region was $9,360 million. The value of ecosystem services is equivalent to about 95% of the regional GDP. This project was undertaken by Dr Anthony Cole and Dr Murray Patterson, with the assistance of Environment Waikato staff.