What’s a river worth?

Earth Economics is a US-based group that “applies new economic tools and principles to meet the challenges of the 21st century: achieving the need for just and equitable communities, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable economies.”

They’ve just released a Report, entitled “Gaining Ground. Wetlands, Hurricanes and the Economy: The Value of Restoring the Mississippi River Delta” that adopts – for me at least – what appears to be a refreshingly new approach to the valuation of natural ecosystems.

Earth Economic’s evaluation of the lower Mississippi Delta finds that:

The Mississippi River Delta ecosystems provide at least $12-47 billion in benefits to people every year. If this natural capital were treated as an economic asset, the delta’s minimum asset value would be $330 billion to $1.3 trillion (3.5% discount rate). This study is the most comprehensive measure of the economic value of Mississippi River Delta natural systems to date. Marine waters, wetlands, swamps, agricultural lands and forests provide natural goods and services. The goods and ecosystem services valued in this study include hurricane and flood protection, water supply, water quality, recreation and fisheries. The Mississippi River Delta is a vast natural asset, a basis for national employment and economic productivity. It was built by literally gaining ground: building land with sediment, fresh water and the energy of the Mississippi River.

While the report concentrates on the lower Mississippi delta, this approach may have broader application – particularly in an Australian context where we have a seemingly endless struggle trying to work out how we are going to manage major economic and ecological assets like the Murray/Darling river systems.

I’m on the road and haven’t had time to fully digest this long and complex report yet but at first and second glances it seems to be worth a longer appraisal and may provide some interesting perspectives on how we value similar assets in this country.

One thing that impresses me in this report is the view that nature should be seen as a service provider, rather than what is the apparent dominant paradigm at present – as the source of material to be exploited.

The economics is clear: invest in the Mississippi River rebuilding the delta to gain ground, physically and economically. On the other hand, ground loss results in loss of nature’s services, causing a hurricane-driven disorderly retreat inland and damaging people and businesses. This analysis strengthens ongoing planning by providing the economic justification for large-scale restoration.

A particular emphasis in the report is the value of intact natural assets as protection against the ravages of nature – if you keep these assets intact – or as best to intact as is possible – they can provide bases for future economic and social development. The main points from the Report include the following:

1. Mississippi River Delta ecosystems provide economically valuable services including hurricane storm protection, water supply, climate stability, food, furs, habitat, waste treatment, and other benefits worth at least $12-47 billion/year. These annual benefits provide a vast amount of value to people across time.

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3. Wetlands – a product of Mississippi River deltaic processes – which include freshwater, saltwater, estuaries, tidal bays, and cypress swamps account for more than 90% of the estimated total value of ecosystem services provided in the Mississippi Delta.

4. Large-scale physical changes are affecting the Mississippi River Delta. These are known facts: hurricanes have become larger and more frequent in the last 30 years, sea level has risen, atmospheric temperatures have risen, and the delta is subsiding and has lost over 1.2 million acres of land since 1930.

5. Three scenarios show that a “do-nothing” approach will cost at least $41 billion in damages. A “hold the line” scenario avoids the $41 billion, without additional benefits. A third “sustainable restoration” option will avoid $41 billion in losses and secure $21 billion in benefits, providing $62 billion in present value.

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8. Restoration of the Mississippi River deltaic processes requires a major investment to maintain or expand the vast value of this natural asset. The movement of water and sediment and the maintenance and expansion of land underlies the production of many economic benefits, including protection against hurricanes. Without this investment, people and economic assets will be forced to retreat from the coast.

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I’ll have a closer look at the report when I get back home early next week. In the meantime I look forward to seeing your thoughts over the next few days while I’m out of range somewhere on the Barkly Tablelands in the central Northern Territory- where I may pick up a few thoughts about large-scale cattle production on our northern savannahs.