Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe

Chapter 9: Surface Water

Problem of the Week

Wetlands: Worthless or Worth Saving?

Answers:

1. First the students must calculate dollar/acre/year value of the 100 million acres.

$9,600 × 100,000,000 = $960,000,000,000 (9.6 × 10¹¹) or 960 billion dollars/acre/year

2. Next the students will compare this amount with the Gross Domestic Product (defined above), and calculate the percent of GDP the estimated wetlands value represents.

$960 billion/$7,813.2 billion = 0.012877 × 100 = 1.2287%

To put this in perspective, again remind them that this is an estimate of the "services" alone. It is an effort to put a dollar value on things that are intangible, such as prevention of flood damage or water quality control, or are not specific goods or services that someone can sell. This amount does not include those dollar values that can be assigned to wetlands, as in the fishing industry and recreation examples discussed.

3. Students should provide data to support their conclusions on the value of wetlands. You may also want to send them to Resource #1 – EPA Fact Sheet: Economic Benefits of Wetlands.
   
   

Resources:

1. Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet: Economic Benefits of Wetlands
   
   
2. Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet: Facts About Wetlands
   
   
3. The Economic Value of Wetlands: Wetlands Role in Flood Prevention in Washington.
        Ecology Publication #97 – 100, October 1997.
   
   
4. U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Survey of Current Business 2000