An in-depth analysis of economic and ecological tradeoffs involved in complex natural resource development decisions. No two environmental management problems are the same. SIG will closely analyze each problem based on its context and particulars, offering unbiased and rigorous recommendations based on the best social and natural science

An estimate of economic values associated with the ecosystem services provided within a study area. Either using original economic and ecological studies or its state-of-the-art Natural Assets Information System™ for value transfer, SIG will provide conservative and defensible economic valuation estimates. It will also help dispel any notion of a “black box” around these numbers. Through detailed documentation and consultation, SIG will help clients delve into the science and methodologies behind the numbers, so that they can better understand the contexts in which they can and cannot be used.

Analysis of scenarios. SIG can simulate alternative conditions, such as construction of a major facility or implementation of a major policy, like increased riparian buffer widths, and assess how that would affect the ecosystem services bottom line.

A land cover typology that is custom designed for the study area: Land cover, or ecosystem type, is the link function by which valuation estimates are assigned to geographic areas. The more precise this typology, the less noise there will be in these valuation estimates. This typology is based on our experience working on valuations in other, similar environments; our initial knowledge of the valuation literature; our review of maps and documents about the study area; and our conversations with the client about the study area ecosystems and potential applications of the project.
 
An ecosystem service typology that is custom designed for the study area: There are many ways to slice and dice ecosystem services into different categories. We design a system for categorizing ecosystem services that is optimized for the ecosystems and the available literature for that area. It is also designed to avoid double counting and over-aggregation.
 
Valuation and gap analysis tables: These tables give valuation estimates and study frequencies cross-tabulated by land cover and ecosystem service type. 

Detailed report: A detailed report gives each valuation result broken down by individual study, land cover type and ecosystem service.

Total valuation estimates for study area: The estimated total value for the entire study area is determined by multiplying acreages by ecosystem service value multipliers. This can yield a total value for all cover types or values broken down by cover type. Total values can be calculated as stocks or flows.

Maps and geographic summaries of valuations: Values are summarized by geographic units, either in maps or in tables. Frequently used geographic units include watersheds, towns, ecoregions, bioregions, etc.

Qualitative assessments: With its expertise in ecology, SIG can provide qualitative summaries on the types of services and functions provided by an ecosystem, how those vary based on conditions and how their benefits are transferred across space. This can either complement valuations or be the primary focus of a study.

Ecosystem Service Valuation for Southern Ontario
Client: Ontario, Canada Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
Description: In its largest ecosystem service valuation project to date, SIG worked with Canada’s biggest natural resource agency to develop a new ecosystem service-based land cover typology for southern Ontario and a corresponding map of nearly 50,000 square miles of territory according to that typology. Each class in the typology was given a per-hectare valuation based on an extensive review of the literature, using NAIS, SIG’s proprietary evaluation system. MNR hopes to use these results in support of land use planning decisions in the province.

Massachusetts Audubon Losing Ground Study
Client: Massachusetts Audubon Society
Description: SIG mapped the ecosystem values for Massachusetts, summarized them by watershed, and assessed the change in ecosystem service values over time. This was part of Massachusetts Audubon’s Losing Ground project, whose purpose was to look at the impacts of urban expansion in the state.

Maury Island Ecological Economic Assessment
Client: King County, Washington, through prime contractor Herrera Environmental, Inc. and Northern Economics, Inc.
Description: For its portion of this project, SIG estimated and mapped the ecosystem service values for a small island in Puget Sound, Washington, including offshore habitat, and assessed the potential losses to ecosystem service values from two scenarios: construction of a gravel mine and full buildout under allowable zoning. This was part of a larger project that included biological studies of the nearshore environment and economic studies on the surrounding communities.

Assessment of the Efficacy of the California BLM Community Assistance and Hazardous Fuels Program
Client: California BLM, through prime contractor TSS Consultants
Description: The ecosystem service assessment portion of this study, conducted by SIG, estimated and mapped the value of ecosystem services for three California counties: Humboldt, Napa and San Bernardino. In addition to summarizing these values by watershed and comparing them to values of property improvements, SIG also assessed the possible loss to ecosystem service values under specific burn scenarios.

Demonstrating the Net Benefits of Site Cleanup: An Evaluation of Ecological and Economic Metrics at Two Superfund Sites
Client: US EPA, through prime contractor Marstel-Day, LLC and CH2M Hill
Description: For the ecosystem services component of this study, SIG looked at whether ecosystem services valuation was an appropriate methodology for assessing the benefits from Superfund Cleanup and compared this methodology to several others, such as Habitat Equivalency Analysis. The ecosystem services valuation method was applied to two cleanup sites, Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida and Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Colorado.

Cockreham Island Ecological Economic Evaluation
Client: Skagit County, WA, through prime contractor Northern Economics, Inc.
Description: For this project, SIG conducted an ecosystem service valuation assessment of a floodplain area in Skagit County, WA. The study looked at the habitat value that would be created through buying out and restoring floodplain properties to help county decision makers target parcels for purchase.

Accounting for Wetland-Related Ecosystem Good and Services at Eglin Air Force Base
Client: US Dept. of Defense through prime contractor Booz-Allen Hamilton
Description: For this project SIG conducted an ecosystem service value assessment for the large complex of wetlands in Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.