Dead planet, living planet

most optimal benefit-cost ratio (Frimpong et al ., 2006). Resto- ration of coastal ecosystems in the Biscayne Bay, Florida, from invasions of exotic damaging plants is another good example of success. The annual benefit of restoration was estimated at 1.7 million USD, giving a long-term value of some 41 million USD. The costs of the restoration projects were approximately 16 million USD. This gave a net gain of 41 million USD, with an internal rate of return of 11% (Lee and Bwenge, 2009). Worldwide, 8–10 billion USD are invested annually in con- servation, mainly in protected areas (James et al . 2001, Pearce 2007). It has been estimated that for an annual investment of around 45 billion USD per year into protected areas alone could secure ecosystem services worth an estimated five trillion USD (Balmford et al ., 2002; TEEB, in press). In the US, the total val- ue of ecosystem services provided by the refuge system likely exceeds the value derived from pure recreational activities, and is estimated at around 26.9 billion USD annually (Ingraham and Foster, 2008). In Menglun, Xishuangbanna, Southwest China, loss of ecosystem services from deforestation to clear for rubber plantations was estimated at 11.4 million USD or 27% across 18 years (Hu et al ., 2008).

Thousands Euro per hectare (logaritmic scale) Ecosystem restoration cost ranges

Coral reefs

1 10 0,1 0,01 0 100 1 000 10 000

Lake and rivers

Marine

Tropical forest

Grassland - Rangeland

Coastal systems

Woodland - shrubland

Inland wetlands

Temperate forest

Source: TEEB, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for National and International Policy Makers, 2009 .

Figure 15: Ecosystem restoration cost ranges.

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