Global Ecosystem Services: Valuation and Environmental Policy

How do we assign value to the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the natural habitats that protect our cities? Understanding the economic and ecological worth of global ecosystem services is critical for making informed decisions in urban planning and environmental policy. This course provides a clear, foundational pathway to evaluating these natural assets and integrating them into modern governance frameworks. You will start by mastering key terminology, basic ecological concepts, and the core valuation methodologies used by economists and planners today. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational categories of ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting systems. Apply quantitative and qualitative valuation methods to estimate the economic worth of natural resources. Analyze global trends and changes in ecosystem values over time to assess environmental degradation. Integrate ecosystem service assessments into urban planning projects and local policy frameworks. Evaluate modern conservation policies, payment schemes for ecosystem services, and sustainability metrics. This text-only course guides you through structured written explanations, real-world policy case studies, and practical analytical exercises. It is designed specifically for beginners, students, and professionals in urban planning or environmental studies with no prior background in ecological economics. Begin your journey toward shaping sustainable policies that recognize the true value of nature.