Valuing Ecosystem Services: A Qualitative Analysis of Drinking Water in the Solomon Islands

This case study introduces the concept of ecosystem valuation through a hypothetical drinking water scenario in the Solomon Islands. Solomon Islanders, along with all humans, benefit from the resources and processes supplied by natural ecosystems that are increasingly threatened due to human demands. On top of this, ecosystem services are undervalued in a market-based system. This case study gives readers a real-world perspective of the applicability, opportunities, and confounding factors that exist when valuing ecosystem services.