Abstract:
Protected lands provide a wide range of ecosystem services and other benefits to multiple stakeholders across all scales, from local to global. This paper uses Gila National Forest (New Mexico, USA) as a case study to show the value of these ecosystem services and the damage costs associated with removing its protection from development. Total values for ecosystem services ranged from $2.2 – 2.5 billion annually. Damage costs from development of just 1.4% of Gila National Forest’s total area were $82 – 273 million. By using readily available data and simple analyses, this study illustrates the importance and value of ensuring that federal lands remain protected.