ENVIRONMENTAL
VALUATION DATABASES
Koenraad Van Landeghem
Principal Economist
NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change
1
“Don’t you just have those
numbers that you can pull
out of a drawer?”
Waste Policy Officer
2
Overview
1.
Valuation databases
2.
Envalue
3.
EVRI
4.
Evaluation of EVRI
5.
Challenges for EVRI
6.
Challenges for DECC
3
VALUATION DATABASES
Usefulness & Purpose:

Consistent reporting of environmental valuation studies

Broadening access to environmental valuations (data poor
field)

Identifying studies relevant to user’s policy area

Facilitating benefits transfer
4
Desirable criteria for Valuation Databases

Contains “local” estimates

Ease of use (useability and access)

Comprehensive


Details about the change being valued, including the characteristics of the natural
resource and the base level of environmental quality

Information about the socio-demographics of the population at the site and their
environmental preferences

Details about the extent of the market: how far away from the site were respondents
identified who still valued the natural resource?

Detailed reporting of the study results

A thorough assessment and reporting of the validity of the study, including
discussion of any methodological issues

Details about the precision of value estimates so that reliability can be assessed

Information that can be used to ascertain whether a conservative value estimate
was produced for the study.
Allows transfer of functional relationships additional to values
[Adapted from Morrison, 2001 & Lantz & Slaney, 2005, etc.]
5
Environmental Valuation Databases - Overview
Name of
Database
Web Host
Purpose of the Database
Regions
Covered
Search
function
Topic areas
No of
studies
Ecosystem
Services
Database
Gund Institute for
Ecological
Economics, USA
Economic values of
ecosystem services
International
Both free text
and guided
search options
300 +
Review of
Externality Data
European
Commission
Externalities produced from
policies that have
sustainable development at
their core
International
Both free text
and guided
search options
Industry; location; pollutant;
receptor; quality of study;
valuation method.
1200+
New Zealand
Non-market
Valuation
Database
Lincoln University
(New Zealand)
Non-market valuation
studies that have been
undertaken in New Zealand
New Zealand
Multiple
guided search
options
Valuation Method; date of
study; environmental
theme; author; type of
paper.
100 +
ValuebaseSwe
Beijer International
Institute of
Ecological
Economics, and the
Swedish EPA
Survey of empirical
economic valuation studies
on environmental change
in Sweden
Sweden
Microsoft
Excel
Built environment; water &
air quality; forests; fish;
natural lands; agriculture.
171
Beneficial use
Values
database
University of
California, Davis
Economic values for
beneficial uses of water
resources
North
America
Microsoft
Access
Beneficial uses of water by
the Californian State Water
Board, USA.
131
Envalue
NSW Department of
Environment &
Climate Change
Promote greater access to
and use of environmental
values in decision-making
International
Guided search
only
Air, Water & Land quality;
Noise; radiation; natural
areas; amenity.
400+
Environmental
Valuation
Reference
Inventory EVRI
Environment
Canada
Assist economists to use
benefits transfer to value
environmental services
International
Both free text
and guided
search
Environmental service,
asset or stressor; location;
development status;
economic measure
1900+
6
Name of
Database
Web Host
Purpose of the Database
Regions
Covered
Search
function
Topic areas
No of
studies
Review of
Externality
Data
European
Commission
To assist capturing the effect of externalities
produced from new policies that have
sustainable development as their core concern.
International
Both free text
and guided
search options
Industry; location;
pollutant; receptor;
quality of study;
valuation method.
1200+
7
8
Name of Database
New Zealand Nonmarket Valuation
Database
Web Host
Lincoln
University (New
Zealand)
Purpose of the Database
To help researchers identify nonmarket valuation studies that have
been undertaken in New Zealand.
Regions
Covered
New
Zealand
Search
functions
Topic areas
Multiple
guided search
options
Valuation Method; date of
study; environmental theme;
author; type of paper.
No of
studies
100 +
9
10
Name of
Database
ValuebaseSwe
Web Host
Beijer International
Institute of Ecological
Economics, and the
Swedish EPA
Purpose of the Database
To provide a survey of empirical
economic valuation studies on
environmental change in
Sweden.
Regions
Covered
Search
functions
Sweden
Microsoft
Excel
Topic areas
Built environment; water
quality; forests; air quality; fish;
natural lands; agriculture.
No of
studies
171
http://www.beijer.kva.se/valuebase.htm
11
12
Name of
Database
Beneficial
use Values
database
Web Host
Purpose of the Database
Regions
Covered
Search
functions
Topic areas
University of California,
Davis
To provide an educational and informational
tool to those interested in documenting the
economic values for beneficial uses of water
resources
North
America
Microsoft
Access
Beneficial uses of water
by the Californian State
Water Board, USA.
No of
studies
131
13
Valuation Databases - alternatives
Name of
Database
Web Host
Purpose of the
Database
Regions
Covered
Search function
Topic areas
No of studies
EconLit
American
Economics
Association
Compiled to display
abstracts from 30
years of economic
literature (not valuation
specific)
International
Free text
Studies relevant to
Economics (including
valuation of
environment)
400,000+
(general)
1600+
(environment)
EconPapers
Department of
Business,
Economics,
Statistics and
Informatics
(Örebro
University)
Data provided by
RePEc (Research
Papers in Economics)
to enhance the
dissemination of
research in economics
International
Free text & guided
search by author
and type of paper.
General Economics
articles (including
environmental &
resource economics)
545,000+
(general
economics)
Biodiversity
Economics
International
Union for the
Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) &
World Wildlife
Fund (WWF)
To encourage and
assist the use of
economics in support
of biodiversity
conservation and
sustainable
development.
International
Free text & Guided
search option
Concepts in valuing
biodiversity; actual
valuations; valuation
methods; indicators;
EIA & SEA.
276 +
Environmental
Valuation &
Cost Benefit
News
The Cost Benefit
Group LLC
(private
consultants)
To promote the
incorporation of
environmental values
into decision-making
International
(mainly USA)
Free-text and
guided
(environmental
medium, location,
contaminant, and
type of study)
Environmental and
Natural Resource
economics
12,000
14
15
What is Envalue?

Internet database of valuation studies on environment and health:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/envalue/

Currently, ~ 400 study records or study summaries that can be easily
searched

Envalue design facilitates benefits transfer, which is the transfer of
values from “study site” to policy site”.

-
Design of records facilitates matching; quality checks; selecting
values
-
Structured search allows for quick location of studies
Free site – no subscription required
16
Envalue Records

Records are broken into categories and sub-categories called fields
where data and information is entered:
-
Basic scope of the study
Key Results: currency, year, values
Annotated Bibliography:

Reference

Valuation technique

Socio-economic characteristics

Environmental Good / Service measured

Comments / summary

Evaluation of the study
17
Envalue
18
Envalue - Information Reported
19
Envalue Information Reported (continued)
20
Envalue - Problems encountered
•
Cost of software upgrades
•
Cost of uploading additional studies
•
Last update (3 articles) in 2006
•
Studies becoming out-dated as a result of the above

DECC was looking for an alternative way to provide a
similar service to Australians…
21
Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory (EVRI)
EVRI Sponsors:
22
What is EVRI?

Internet Infobase of valuation studies on environment and health:
http//www.evri.ca

Currently, ~ 1,900 study records or study summaries that can be
easily searched

EVRI design facilitates benefits transfer, which is the transfer of values
from “study site” to policy site”.
-
Design of records facilitates matching; quality checks; selecting
values
-
Search engines allows for quick location of studies

Free site to U.S., U.K., France, Canada and Australia

Bilingual site
23
DECC external promotion of EVRI
Promote greater Australian use of EVRI
-
DECC Media Release
Advertisements in various e-newsletters, AARES, DECC etc
Group e-mails to distribution list
Links to EVRI from websites, e.g. libraries, Govt Departments
Conferences: distribute EVRI posters and flyers
Link from ‘Envalue’ entry-page
Increase Australian content:
-
Encouraging Australian authors to up-load their articles to EVRI
-
DECC evaluation will identify potential for increased relevance to
Australian users
List of relevant Australian literature sent to Environment Canada
for consideration
24
25
EVRI Records

Records are broken into categories and sub-categories called fields
where data and information is entered:
-
Study Reference
Study Area and Population
Environmental Focus of Study
Study Methods
Estimated Values
Abstract
26
EVRI Database Breakdown
Studies in EVRI by Country*
Country
EVRI records by category
Percentage
Environmental Asset
Number of Records
Water (general)
943
Animals (general)
939
Land (general)
692
Plants
425
Human (health or capital)
335
Air
268
2%
Infrastructure/Produced
203
15%
Micro-organisms
United States
47%
United Kingdom
12%
Canada
11%
Nordic Countries
10%
France
3%
Australia
Non-Member Countries
9
*More than one category may have been identified for each record.
As of March 31, 2007
As of March 2007
27
28
29
EVRI – information reported
30
EVRI – information reported (cont’d)
31
EVRI – information reported (cont’d)
32
Evaluation of EVRI and Envalue
DECC’s activities:
1. Literature Review
2. Cost-Benefit Analysis
3. Web-statistics
4. Australian user survey
Monthly Visits to EVRI
Monthly visits to 'Envalue' minus monthly visits to 'EVRI'
400
400
350
300
300
200
Visits
250
100
200
150
Sep-07
Aug-07
Jul-07
Jun-07
May-07
Apr-07
Mar-07
Feb-07
Jan-07
Dec-06
Nov-06
Oct-06
Sep-06
Aug-06
-100
Jul-06
0
100
50
Monthly Visits to Envalue website minus Monthly
visits to EVRI website [NB: visits to ‘EVRI’ just
include Australian visitors, whereas visits to
‘Envalue’ also include international visitors]
Sep-07
Aug-07
Jul-07
Jun-07
May-07
Apr-07
Mar-07
Feb-07
Jan-07
Dec-06
Nov-06
Oct-06
Sep-06
Aug-06
-200
Jul-06
0
Monthly visits to EVRI website by Australians
33
Evaluation of EVRI (cont’d)
Environment Canada’s activities:
1.
Independent 3rd Party Review
2.
Australian Representative on EC’s Evaluation Committee
3.
User perception of EVRI & potential for improvement
Member Country (excluding USA): EVRI visits per month
US visits to EVRI
average about 4000
per month
600
500
Visits
400
Canada
300
United Kingdom
France
Australia
200
100
0
Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep06
06
06
06 07
07
07
07
07 07
07
07
07
34
Challenges for EVRI
 Improved reporting
 Access to original studies
 Range of available studies
 Member countries
 Objectives of EC
- Facilitate benefits transfer
- Capture more valuation studies
- Keep database content current
- Market and distribute to promote benefits transfers in as
many countries as possible.
35
Challenges to DECC / Australia
 More Australian studies
- Limitation to Australian Policy relevance
- Slow progress in uploading further studies
- International Benefits Transfer (limitation?)
Cumulative Australian studies in EVRI
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1999
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
 Continued funding
36
Articles Reviewing Valuation Databases
1. Navrud, S., Vagnes, M., (2000), Assessment of EVRI and the Expansion
of its Coverage to the EU, Report to the European Comission, DG, XI.
2. Morrison 2001, Non-market Valuation Databases: How Useful Are
They?, Economic Analysis and Policy, v. 31, Iss. 1, pp. 33-56
3. Van Lantz & Greg Slaney 2005, An Evaluation of Environmental
Valuation Databases around the World, Presented at workshop in
Washington entitled “Benefits Transfer and Valuation Databases: Are We
Heading in the Right Direction?”
4. White, J., 2005, Envalue and Benefits Transfer in Australia, [Washington
workshop].
5. McComb, Lantz, Nash & Rittmaster, 2006, International valuation
databases: Overview, methods and operational issues, Ecological
Economics, 60, pp. 461-472
6. Villa, Ceroni, & Krivov, 2007, Intelligent Databases Assist Transparent
and Sound Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services, Environmental
Management, Vol. 39 Issue 6, p887-899
37
Valuation Databases
• EVRI – http://www.evri.ca
• Envalue - http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/envalue/
• Ecosystem Services Database (ESD) - http://esd.uvm.edu/
• Review of Externality Database (RED) - http://www.red-externalities.net/
• New Zealand Non Market Valuation Database - http://oldlearn.lincoln.ac.nz/markval/
• ValuebaseSwe - http://www.beijer.kva.se/valuebase.htm
• Beneficial Use Values Database - http://buvd.ucdavis.edu/buvd/index.htm
• EconPapers - http://econpapers.repec.org/
• Biodiversity Economics - http://www.biodiversityeconomics.org/
• Environmental & Cost Benefit Analysis News - http://envirovaluation.org/
38