The QGIS EcoValuator provides a simple means of estimating the dollar value of ecosystem services, such as for recreation, water supply, food, and others. In the first step, the EcoValuator clips and attaches raster data from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) to a user-supplied polygon or polygon layer and attaches a set of per-unit-area values based on the land cover type of each pixel. Output from this step includes a new raster including just the clipped data and a table of aggregate ecosystem service values (in dollars per year) for each land cover-and-ecosystem service combination. In second step the EcoValuator generates a raster for a chosen ecosystem service so that users can view the spatial variation in that service’s value across the study region. By repeating this step for other ecosystem services, the user can create a series of maps of different values that can be layered or stacked to show combined value for multiple services.
National Land Cover Database 2011 (NLCD 2011) is the most recent national land cover product created by the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium. NLCD 2011 keeps the same 16-class land cover classification scheme that has been applied consistently across the United States at a spatial resolution of 30 meters, and is based primarily on a decision-tree classification of circa 2011 Landsat satellite data.
Include: Common Errors and Solutions
I.e.
-Option for automatic CRS NLCD file?
Ecosystem Services:
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Aesthetics |
Formation of landscapes that are attractive to people |
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Climate Regulation |
Modulation of regional/local climate |
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Air Quality |
Removal of contaminants from the air flowing through an ecosystem, including through filtration or decomposition |
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Cultural, Other |
non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, and more, excluding recreation and aesthetics |
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Passive Use |
Includes existence value of an ecosystem and the value of its future use for oneself or others |
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Energy |
Resource utilization to produce renewable energy, specifically hydropower from open water |
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Protection from Extreme Events |
Extreme weather events or natural hazards include floods, storms, tsunamis, avalanches and landslides. Ecosystems and living organisms create buffers against natural disasters, thereby preventing possible damage |
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Food/Nutrition |
Ecosystems provide the conditions for growing food. Food comes principally from managed agro-ecosystems but marine and freshwater systems or forests also provide food for human consumption. Wild foods from forests are often underestimated. |
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Biodiversity |
The process of genetic diversity across and within species |
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Raw Materials |
Materials for construction and fuel including wood, biofuels and plant oils that are directly derived from wild and cultivated plant species. |
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Medicinal |
Ecosystems and biodiversity provide many plants used as traditional medicines as well as providing the raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. |
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Recreation |
Leisure and activity derived from ecosystems |
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Soil Formation |
Process by which soil is created, including changes in soil depth, structure, and fertility |
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Erosion Control |
Control of the processes leading to erosion, for example, by controlling the effects of water flow, wind, or gravity |
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Waste Assimilation |
Removal of contaminants from the soil in an ecosystem, including through biological processes such as decomposition |
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Water Supply |
Regulation of the flow, timing of flow, and purification of water. |
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Pollination |
Contribution of insects, birds, bats and other organisms to pollen transport resulting in the production of fruits and seeds. May also include seed and fruit dispersal |