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Emergy as a Tool to Evaluate Ecosystem Services: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Author

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  • Ana Carolina V. Nadalini

    (Energy and Environment Interdisciplinary Center (CIENAM), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40170-115, Brazil)

  • Ricardo de Araujo Kalid

    (Federal University of the South of Bahia (UFSB), Itabuna 45613-204, Brazil)

  • Ednildo Andrade Torres

    (Polytechnic School, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Rua Aristides Novis, 2, 3rd Floor, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil)

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present a review of current research on the valuation of ecosystem services, using emergy evaluation methodology (EME). A bibliometric analysis and a systematic review were carried out between 2000 and 2020, using all of Web of Science database subfields that collected 187 papers, selected through the keywords “emergy” and “ecosystem services”. In the second part of the research, we carried out a new search on Web of Science of the 187 initial articles produced, with the words “valuation” and “economic”, in order to analyze those directly related to the evaluation of ecosystem services. The results showed that the EME method is an effective tool to evaluate ecosystem services, since it relates economic and ecological aspects in the evaluations. The research also indicated that the use of isolated methods does not appear to be the most appropriate solution, and that emergy used in combination with other methodologies can be used to obtain more accurate and comprehensive results to evaluate natural resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Carolina V. Nadalini & Ricardo de Araujo Kalid & Ednildo Andrade Torres, 2021. "Emergy as a Tool to Evaluate Ecosystem Services: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7102-:d:581709
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Shiliang Liu & Yuhong Dong & Hua Liu & Fangfang Wang & Lu Yu, 2023. "Review of Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services and Realization Approaches in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, May.
    4. Suman Paneru & Forough Foroutan Jahromi & Mohsen Hatami & Wilfred Roudebush & Idris Jeelani, 2021. "Integration of Emergy Analysis with Building Information Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.

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