Table 1.
Type | Definition | Examples | Evaluators |
---|---|---|---|
1. Resources themselves | Value of individual species to the ecosystem | Keystone species | Natural resource trustees |
Trophic role | Conservationists | ||
Predator/prey dynamics | Regulators | ||
Endangered and threatened species | Tribal councils | ||
2. Specific resources for individuals | Value of individual species to individual people or groups of people | Fish for fishing | Fish and game agencies |
Game for hunting | Conservationists | ||
Birds for bird-watching | Businesses catering to recreationists | ||
Wildlife for photography | Tribal councils | ||
Fish and coral for divers | Scientists and social scientists | ||
Plants for religious or medicinal purposes | |||
3. Resources for communities | Value of ecosystem to human communities | Clean water and air | Regulators |
Buffers from storms, hurricanes. | Public policy-makers | ||
Coastal zone managers/Army Corp of Engineers | |||
Tribal councils | |||
Scientists | |||
4. Intact ecosystems | Ecological, aesthetic and existence values to people | Old growth forest | Environmental Protection agencies (state and federal) |
Salt marshes | Ecologists | ||
Tropical forests | NGOs | ||
Deserts | Tribal councils | ||
Scientists |
The examples and list of evaluators are not meant to be exhaustive, but representative.