ELME2

Nationwide evaluation and mapping of the socio-economic value of the benefits of terrestrial ecosystems in Estonia

ELME2 was partially based on the base map of ecosystems developed during ELME1, the status map of ecosystems and the mapped benefits of nature.

The specific objectives of the work were:

1. develop a methodology for assessing and mapping the economic value of selected (most important) natural benefits belonging to different groups (regulating and preserving, supplying, cultural) within the scope of the coverage of Estonia’s main terrestrial ecosystems (forests, swamps, meadows, agricultural ecosystems);

2. evaluate and map the economic (if possible, financial) value of the selected benefits in the protected areas, and for the selected benefits also nationwide. Carry out more detailed analyzes on the selected pilot areas (Lahemaa National Park, Alam-Pedja nature reserve and the planned Sõrve nature reserve);

3. design and analyze scenarios that show the financial value of ecosystem services in the case of different conditions and areal coverage of ecosystems and in case of a value that changes over time.

Project period: 2022-2023