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Estimating the Size and Impact of the Ecological Restoration Economy

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  • Todd BenDor
  • T William Lester
  • Avery Livengood
  • Adam Davis
  • Logan Yonavjak

Abstract

Domestic public debate continues over the economic impacts of environmental regulations that require environmental restoration. This debate has occurred in the absence of broad-scale empirical research on economic output and employment resulting from environmental restoration, restoration-related conservation, and mitigation actions — the activities that are part of what we term the “restoration economy.” In this article, we provide a high-level accounting of the size and scope of the restoration economy in terms of employment, value added, and overall economic output on a national scale. We conducted a national survey of businesses that participate in restoration work in order to estimate the total sales and number of jobs directly associated with the restoration economy, and to provide a profile of this nascent sector in terms of type of restoration work, industrial classification, workforce needs, and growth potential. We use survey results as inputs into a national input-output model (IMPLAN 3.1) in order to estimate the indirect and induced economic impacts of restoration activities. Based on this analysis we conclude that the domestic ecological restoration sector directly employs ~ 126,000 workers and generates ~ $9.5 billion in economic output (sales) annually. This activity supports an additional 95,000 jobs and $15 billion in economic output through indirect (business-to-business) linkages and increased household spending.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd BenDor & T William Lester & Avery Livengood & Adam Davis & Logan Yonavjak, 2015. "Estimating the Size and Impact of the Ecological Restoration Economy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-15, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0128339
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128339
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    4. Grazia Sveva Ascione & Federico Cuomo & Nicole Mariotti & Laura Corazza, 2021. "Urban Living Labs, Circular Economy and Nature-Based Solutions: Ideation and Testing of a New Soil in the City of Turin Using a Multi-stakeholder Perspective," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 545-562, September.
    5. Ewelina Szałkiewicz & Szymon Jusik & Mateusz Grygoruk, 2018. "Status of and Perspectives on River Restoration in Europe: 310,000 Euros per Hectare of Restored River," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Michael Manton & Evaldas Makrickas & Piotr Banaszuk & Aleksander Kołos & Andrzej Kamocki & Mateusz Grygoruk & Marta Stachowicz & Leonas Jarašius & Nerijus Zableckis & Jūratė Sendžikaitė & Jan Peters &, 2021. "Assessment and Spatial Planning for Peatland Conservation and Restoration: Europe’s Trans-Border Neman River Basin as a Case Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-27, February.
    7. Edward B. Barbier, 2022. "The Policy Implications of the Dasgupta Review: Land Use Change and Biodiversity," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(4), pages 911-935, December.
    8. Valencia Torres, Angélica & Tiwari, Chetan & Atkinson, Samuel F., 2021. "Progress in ecosystem services research: A guide for scholars and practitioners," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    9. Esmee D. Kooijman & Siobhan McQuaid & Mary-Lee Rhodes & Marcus J. Collier & Francesco Pilla, 2021. "Innovating with Nature: From Nature-Based Solutions to Nature-Based Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    10. Alex W. Ireland & Laura J. Napoli & Katherine A. Basiotis & Emily J. Voldstad & Kayhan Ostovar, 2020. "Potential conservation benefits of a voluntary corporate certification program," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 4889-4905, June.
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