Importance of Including Use and Passive Use Values of River and Lake Restoration

Abstract

Two case studies were illustrated, calculatingthe total economic values of restoration includingpassive use values is necessary so as to not understate the benefits of river restoration. The passive use or non use values often make up a majority of the benefits, and their omission can often lead to the impression that the restoration is uneconomic. As these two case studies indicate, the inclusion of passive use values demonstrates that restoration was economically efficient, with the benefits exceeding costs. While economics should not be the sole determinant of whether to restore an area or not, as restoration projects expand in frequency and scale, some prioritization of restoration projects becomes inevitable. In sorting through restoration projects that compete for scarce funding, having information about the use and passive use values of the restoration project can aid decision-makers in selecting restoration projects that provide the greatest benefits to society as a whole.