Since 1998, Earth Economics has been a world leader in natural capital valuation. Scientific and data-driven, our Ecosystem Services Valuation provides insight to inform and inspire sustainable decisions that improve outcomes for people, businesses, communities, and natural resources. 

We conduct our analyses using GIS data and values from our Ecosystem Valuation Toolkit (EVT). The Toolkit is a comprehensive, searchable database of ecosystem service values that our EVT team constantly updates to stay on the cutting edge of this rapidly evolving field.

Our highly-skilled analysts can tailor complex Ecosystem Services Valuations to meet your project needs. From investment to policy-making, we provide defensible natural capital valuation solutions. 

Featured Report

Ecosystem Services Valuation
of the Keweenaw Peninsula

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The ecosystems around the Keweenaw Peninsula risk being impaired by mining waste called stamp sands. Gaining a better understanding of the economic value of the services provided by these ecosystems will provide important information to be taken into account in management decisions, including the restoration efforts targeted at removing or containing these stamp sands in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Along the Keweenaw Peninsula, copper mines and mills dotted this “Copper Country” at the turn of the 20th century. These mines produced tailings called stamp sands — sand in both coarse and fine particle sizes left over from processed ore — from 1860 until 1968. During that time, miners dumped millions of metric tons of stamp sands along rivers, waterways, lakes, and the shores of Lake Superior on the Keweenaw Peninsula. These stamp sands left behind from historic mining activities are now having significant environmental effects.

This study finds that the non-market values of ecosystem services provided by the lands and waters of the Keweenaw Peninsula are substantial—at least $613 million to $1.5 billion each year.

Fletcher, A., Cousins, K. 2019. Ecosystem Services Valuation of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Earth Economics. Tacoma, WA.

Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We would like to thank Elizabeth LaPlante and Kevin O’Donnell of the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) for their assistance and support.