Combining Economic and Ecological Indicators to Prioritize Wetlands Restoration Projects Within a Spatial GIS Framework

拟议研究的目标是：1.提高对货币经济价值、自然资源价值的指标和指数以及利益转移方法之间联系的基本认识；2.制定反映资源资产生态和社会背景的湿地价值指标；3.开发基于地理信息系统的经济评估方法，类似于并补充自然科学研究中使用的流域方法；4.与罗德岛州官员协调，制定使用社会、生态和经济价值指标对湿地恢复项目进行评级的实用方法；5.制定标准化方法，以便将模型和结果转移到其他地点。第一阶段将制定研究的理论模型和操作方法，并提供确定指标的初步步骤。这一阶段将包括建立指标、指数和经济评估方法之间的概念联系；协调该方法与罗德岛州环境管理部的数据收集工作；确定一套初步指标，作为实地研究的起点；开发模型，以便将指标与惠益转移方法联系起来。第二阶段将确定技术“专家”和普通公众所表达的主要价值指标。这些数据将用于改进和量化指标，量化经济价值和指标之间的联系，比较“专家”和公共价值，并制定将专家评估作为公共价值启发工具的投入的方法。第三阶段将利用第一阶段和第二阶段制定的方法和数据，开发和实施基于地理信息系统的工具，以确定湿地的优先次序。第三阶段还将比较不同的方法(美元估值、效用指数和价值指标)，将结果应用于罗德岛州纳拉甘西特湾流域，并测试该方法在其他地点的可移植性。研究将开发和实施基于地理信息系统的工具，以确定湿地恢复和重建项目的优先顺序，并将社会和经济价值指标与国家正在实施的基于科学的方法相结合，开发协调方法，在系统范围内平衡多个目标。这项研究将为确定和衡量与自然系统相关的经济价值提供以前相互割裂的方法之间的密切联系，为确定恢复项目的优先顺序创造一个跨学科的工具。该方法将被设计用来估计和比较经济价值、(基于效用的)经济指数和经济价值指标。

The objectives of the proposed research are to: 1.improve the fundamental understanding of linkages between monetary economic values, indicators and indexes of natural resource values, and benefit transfer methodologies; 2. develop indicators of wetlands values that reflect the ecological and social context of resource asset; 3. develop GIS-based methodologies for economic valuation that are akin to, and complement, watershed approaches used in natural science studies.; 4. coordinate with officials in the State of Rhode Island to develop practical methods for ranking wetland restoration projects using indicators of social, ecological, and economic values; and 5. develop standardized methodologies allowing transfer of models and results to other sites.Phase I will develop the theoretical model and operational methodology of the study, and provide initial steps in defining indicators. This phase will include development of conceptual linkages between indicators, indexes and economic valuation methods; coordination of the approach with data collection efforts by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; identification of an initial set of indicators to serve as a starting point for the field research; and development of models to allow linking of indicators with benefits transfer methods. Phase II will identify key indicators of values as expressed by technical "experts" and by the general public. These data will be used to refine and quantify the indicators, to quantify linkages between economic values and indicators, to compare "expert" and public values, and to develop methods that use expert assessments as input into public value elicitation tools. Phase III will use methods and data developed in Phases I and II to develop and implement the GIS-based tool for identifying wetland priorities. Phase III will also compare different approaches (dollar valuation, utility indexes and value indicators), apply results to the Narragansett Bay watershed in Rhode Island, and test the transferability of the method to other sites.The research will develop and implement a GIS-based tool for prioritizing wetlands restoration and rehabilitation projects, and will combine indicators of social and economic values with science-based methods being implemented by the state, to develop coordinated methods to balance multiple objectives in a systems context. The research will provide close linkages between previously disconnected methods for identifying and measuring economic values associated with natural systems, creating an interdisciplinary tool for prioritizing restoration projects. The approach will be designed to estimate and compare economic valuation, (utility-based) economic indexes, and indicators of economic value.