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Assessing the Benefits of Wetland Restoration: A Rapid Benefit Indicators Approach for Decision Makers
Citation:
Mazzotta, M., J. Bousquin, C. Ojo, K. Hychka, C. Druschke, W. Berry, AND Rick Mckinney. Assessing the Benefits of Wetland Restoration: A Rapid Benefit Indicators Approach for Decision Makers. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-16/084, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
The rapid benefits indicators (RBI) approach presented in this report is intended to be used by resource managers, watershed groups, or others interested in a rapid approach to assessing the benefits of restoration using non-monetary benefits indicators. The RBI approach provides a way to compile information that complements the types of information typically gleaned from ecological functional assessments, by adding information about benefits to people.
Description:
This guide presents the Rapid Benefits Indicators (RBI) Approach, a rapid process for assessing the social benefits of ecosystem restoration. Created for those who conduct, advocate for, or support restoration, the RBI approach consists of five steps: (1) Describe the decision context, (2) Select ecosystem services and describe benefits, (3) Compile benefit indicators, (4) Summarize the indicators, and (5) Use the results in decision making. The RBI Approach can be used for many types of assessments and ecosystems. In this guide, we focus on freshwater wetlands in urbanizing areas, and highlight their particular features and benefits through an example application in the Woonasquatucket River Watershed in Rhode Island, USA. The RBI Approach is a multidimensional and disaggregated method, which compiles information in a systematic way to inform decisions. It may be used as a first step towards monetary valuation or towards a single score, but can be used on its own in many contexts, including: prioritizing sites or projects, deciding which projects to fund, initial screening of projects, assessing who may benefit, or informing people about the benefits of restoration.