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8: Introduction to Utilitarian Valuation of Biodiversity

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Determining the value or worth of biodiversity is complex. Economists typically subdivide utilitarian or use values of biodiversity into direct use value for those goods that are consumed directly, such as food or timber, and indirect use value for those services that support the items that are consumed, including ecosystem functions like nutrient cycling.

There are several less tangible values that are sometimes called non-use or passive values, for things that we don't use but would consider as a loss if they were to disappear; these include existence value, the value of knowing something exists even if you will never use it or see it, and bequest value, the value of knowing something will be there for future generations (Moran and Pearce 1994). Potential or Option value refers to the use that something may have in the future; sometimes this is included as a use value, we have chosen to include it within the passive values here based on its abstract nature. The components included within the category of "utilitarian" values vary somewhat in the literature. For example, some authors classify spiritual, cultural, and aesthetic values as indirect use values, whiles others consider them to be non-use values, differentiated from indirect use values -- such as nutrient cycling -- because spiritual, cultural, and aesthetic values for biodiversity are not essential to human survival. Still others consider these values as separate categories entirely. (See also, Callicott 1997, Hunter 2002, Moran and Pearce 1994, Perlman and Adelson 1997, Primack 2002, Van Dyke 2003). In this module, we include spiritual, cultural and aesthetic values as a subset of indirect values or services, as they provide a service by enriching our lives (Table).

Direct Use Value (Goods) Indirect Use Value (Services) Non-Use Values
Food, medicine, building material, fiber, fuel Atmospheric and climate regulation, pollination, nutrient recycling Potential (or Option) Value Future value either as a good or a service
Cultural, Spiritual, and Aesthetic Existence Value Value of knowing something exists
Bequest Value Value of knowing that something will be there for future generations

Table 8.1 Categories of Values of Biodiversity

Note

Some authors choose to differentiate Cultural, Spiritual, Aesthetic, and Non-Use Values from those services that provide basic survival needs such as the air we breathe.

Glossary

direct use value
refers to products or goods which are consumed directly such as food or timber
indirect use value
refers to the services that support the products that are consumed, this includes ecosystems functions like nutrient cycling
non use or passive value
refers to the value for things that we don't use but would feel a loss if they were to disappear
existence value
the value of knowing something exists even if you will never use it or see it
bequest value
the value of knowing something will be there for future generations
potential or option value
refers to the use that something may have in the future

This page titled 8: Introduction to Utilitarian Valuation of Biodiversity is shared under a CC BY 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Nora Bynum via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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