Economic Research Report No. (ERR-183) 63 pp

February 2015

Targeting Investments To Cost Effectively Restore and Protect Wetland Ecosystems: Some Economic Insights

The environmental benefits of restoring and preserving wetlands-including cleaner water, increases in wildlife populations, and carbon sequestration-as well as costs, depend on wetland type, land productivity, and the public's desire for amenities, all of which depend on location. Findings show where wetland conservation funding might be targeted to maximize benefits relative to costs.

Keywords: Wetland valuation, wetland costs, wetland benefits, ecosystem services, environmental targeting, nonmarket values, wetland amenities, cost-effective conservation, duck hunting, nitrogen removal, endangered species, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas mitigation, climate change, flood protection, open space, sediment removal

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