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A review and application of the evidence for nitrogen impacts on ecosystem services

Author

Listed:
  • Jones, L.
  • Provins, A.
  • Holland, M.
  • Mills, G.
  • Hayes, F.
  • Emmett, B.
  • Hall, J.
  • Sheppard, L.
  • Smith, R.
  • Sutton, M.
  • Hicks, K.
  • Ashmore, M.
  • Haines-Young, R.
  • Harper-Simmonds, L.

Abstract

Levels of reactive nitrogen (N) in the atmosphere have declined by around 25% in Europe since 1990. Ecosystem services provide a framework for valuing N impacts on the environment, and this study provides a synthesis of evidence for atmospheric N deposition effects on ecosystem services. We estimate the marginal economic value of the decline in N deposition on six ecosystem services in the UK. This decline resulted in a net benefit (Equivalent Annual Value) of £65m (£5m to £123m, 95% CI). There was a cost (loss of value) for provisioning services: timber and livestock production of −£6.2m (−£3.5m to −£9.2m, 95% CI). There was a cost for CO2 sequestration and a benefit for N2O emissions which combined amounted to a cost for greenhouse gas regulation of −£15.7m (−£4.5m to −£30.6m). However, there were benefits for the cultural services of recreational fishing and appreciation of biodiversity, which amounted to £87.7m (£13.1m to £163.0m), outweighing costs to provisioning and regulating services. Knowledge gaps in both the under-pinning science and in the value-transfer evidence prevent economic valuation of many services, particularly for cultural services, providing only a partial picture of N impacts which may underestimate the benefits of reducing N deposition.

Suggested Citation

  • Jones, L. & Provins, A. & Holland, M. & Mills, G. & Hayes, F. & Emmett, B. & Hall, J. & Sheppard, L. & Smith, R. & Sutton, M. & Hicks, K. & Ashmore, M. & Haines-Young, R. & Harper-Simmonds, L., 2014. "A review and application of the evidence for nitrogen impacts on ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 7(C), pages 76-88.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoser:v:7:y:2014:i:c:p:76-88
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2013.09.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard Carson & Nicholas Flores & Norman Meade, 2001. "Contingent Valuation: Controversies and Evidence," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 19(2), pages 173-210, June.
    2. Fisher, Brendan & Turner, R. Kerry & Morling, Paul, 2009. "Defining and classifying ecosystem services for decision making," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 643-653, January.
    3. Nunes, Paulo A. L. D. & van den Bergh, Jeroen C. J. M., 2001. "Economic valuation of biodiversity: sense or nonsense?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 203-222, November.
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    2. Jones, Laurence & Milne, Alice & Hall, Jane & Mills, Gina & Provins, Allan & Christie, Michael, 2018. "Valuing Improvements in Biodiversity Due to Controls on Atmospheric Nitrogen Pollution," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 358-366.
    3. Lin, Jingyu & Huang, Jinliang & Hadjikakou, Michalis & Huang, Yaling & Li, Kun & Bryan, Brett A., 2021. "Reframing water-related ecosystem services flows," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    4. Pickard, Brian R. & Daniel, Jessica & Mehaffey, Megan & Jackson, Laura E. & Neale, Anne, 2015. "EnviroAtlas: A new geospatial tool to foster ecosystem services science and resource management," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 14(C), pages 45-55.
    5. Taboada, Angela & García-Llamas, Paula & Fernández-Guisuraga, José Manuel & Calvo, Leonor, 2021. "Wildfires impact on ecosystem service delivery in fire-prone maritime pine-dominated forests," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    6. Thomas Elliot & Javier Babí Almenar & Samuel Niza & Vânia Proença & Benedetto Rugani, 2019. "Pathways to Modelling Ecosystem Services within an Urban Metabolism Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-22, May.

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