A Scale Problem with the Ecosystem Services Argument for Protecting Biodiversity

Katie H. Morrow

Environmental Values, 2023, vol. 32, issue 3, 271-290

Abstract: The ecosystem services argument is a highly publicised instrumental argument for protecting biodiversity. I develop a new objection to this argument based on the lack of a causal connection from global species losses to local ecosystem changes. I survey some alternative formulations of services arguments, including ones incorporating option value or a precautionary principle, and show that they do not fare much better than the standard version. I conclude that environmental thinkers should rely less on ecosystem services as a means to defend biodiversity, and that attention should be focused on additional types of value which might be attributed to global biodiversity.

Keywords: Biodiversity; ecosystem services; instrumental value; option value; precautionary principle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envval:v:32:y:2023:i:3:p:271-290

DOI: 10.3197/096327122X16569260361751

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