Using Economic Valuation Techniques to Inform Water Resources Management in the Southern European, Mediterranean and Developing Countries: A Survey and Critical Appraisal of Available Techniques

Abstract

Water resources include surface water, groundwater, inland water, rivers, lakes, transitional waters, coastal waters and aquifers (Chave, 2001). Together, these water resources are crucial to human health and the natural environment, and are vital to any economy in the world. Water resources are necessary inputs to production in economic sectors such as agriculture (arable and non-arable land, aquaculture, commercial fishing, and forestry), industry (e.g. power generation) and tourism, as well as to household consumption (UNEP, 2005).