Environmental Valuation in South Asia

Environmental Valuation in South Asia is about understanding the value of environmental services in South Asia . The book provides an overview of different environmental problems in South Asia and examines how economic valuation techniques can be used to assess these problems. It offers robust evidence of the economic benefits of resource conservation and identifies costs associated with a decline in environmental quality as South Asian economies grow. It brings together multiple case studies on valuation undertaken by economists and environmental scientists from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka under the aegis of the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE). A unique feature of the book is its exposition of the use of environmental and economic data and analytical techniques under circumstances where data are difficult to obtain. This book addresses the challenges of valuing environmental changes that are unique to developing countries. Each chapter starts with a description of an environmental problem and the valuation strategy used, followed by a discussion of estimation methods and results. This book is designed to serve as a reference book for students, teachers, researchers, non-government organizations, and practitioners of environmental valuation. Those interested in the fields of development and environmental economics, and natural resource management policies, will also find it useful.