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ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Ed Sanders is a founding partner in EcoAsset Markets, Inc. (EAM). The company is developing path-breaking decision support tools to facilitate the emergence and improve the efficiency of markets for ecosystem services. Emerging markets for these ecosystems services can often provide additional income to supplement the revenues from the core ecotourism operations. These potential incremental revenues can be especially important for ecotourism projects that are attempting to acquire, manage, and protect larger properties.
Background: Natural ecosystems (e.g., forests, wetlands, grasslands, estuaries, open space) produce a variety of “ecosystem services” that underpin human welfare. These services provide such benefits as carbon sequestration, water purification, flood control, soil regeneration, wildlife habitat, pollination, nutrient recycling, scenic vistas and recreational opportunities. Because many of these services are “public goods”, private markets typically do not provide landowners economic incentives to provide them. It is necessary, therefore, to develop innovative market mechanisms to create incentives for providing these potential ecosystem services.
Services: EcoAsset Markets offers a variety of consultative and ecosystem market development services, including:
- REALmap, EAES, and EAIIS – a suite of GIS-based decision support tools that quantify and value the full range of potential ecosystem services from specific properties,
- Structuring pilot market projects to test and refine potential ecosystem services market mechanisms,
- A range of consulting services to assist developers, landowners, conservation organizations and government agencies to identify, quantify, package and buy or sell a variety of various ecosystem services.
For more information, see EcoAsset Markets’ Website at www.eamarkets.com.
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