Estimating the Size and Impact of the Ecological Restoration Economy

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 17;10(6):e0128339. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128339. eCollection 2015.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ecology / economics*
  • Ecosystem
  • Employment / economics
  • Humans

Grants and funding

This research was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation (http://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/; A13-1105-001; T.B., B.L., A.L, L.Y., A.D.), the blue moon fund (http://www.bluemoonfund.org/; A13-1354-001; T.B., B.L., A.L., A.D.), and the Conservation Fund (http://www.conservationfund.org/; T.B.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Co-author Adam Davis is employed by Ecosystem Investment Partners. Ecosystem Investment Partners provided support in the form of salary for author AD, but was in no way involved in funding the study. Ecosystem Investment Partners did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific role of this author is articulated in the 'author contributions' section.