Remnant vegetation and wetlands protection : non-market valuation

Benefit cost analysis is an appealing tool for those responsible for the allocation of environmental assets. However, the alternative uses to which environmental assets may be put frequently generate benefits and costs that are not marketed and hence not readily valued in dollar terms. This is especially the case when non-use environmental benefits and oosts such as existence values are likely to be pivotal in the selection of the preferred allocatjon. Hence, for decision makers to be able to apply benefit-cost analysis, these non-market values must be estimated.