The effects of changing land use on ecosystem services values in west Michigan: A spatially-explicit temporal analysis

Background/Question/Methods

Researchers at Grand Valley State University collaborated with a regional policy organization (West Michigan Strategic Alliance) to explore the value of green infrastructure in a seven-county policy region in West Michigan. Utilizing benefit transfer methodology, the trans-disciplinary team followed the basic seven–step procedure outlined in Troy and Wilson (2006) to obtain value estimates for green infrastructure based on land use data from 1978 and 1999-2001. The most current value estimates have been incorporated into an online web-based tool that utilizes GIS valuation maps, graphs, and tables to educate local land use decision-makers and inform the policy discussion (http://INVEST.wri.gvsu.edu).

Results/Conclusions

The total value of the 1999-2001 green infrastructure and its associated ecosystem services in the seven-county policy region is conservatively estimated at $1.6 billion annually (adjusted to 2006 US dollars). Included in this figure are values for 11 ecosystem services associated with eight simplified land use categories. Values were not determined for all ecosystem services because there was insufficient information from other studies that could be transferred to the West Michigan policy region. The current value estimates are being compared to the values of these ecosystem services based on the 1978 demographics and land use and cover data. GIS valuation maps for both time periods will be generated to show the relative values of the ecosystem services within the region across time. This will highlight how land use changes have affected the value of green infrastructure in West Michigan.