Whether it’s large-scale watershed restoration or local green stormwater infrastructure, nature-based solutions deliver essential benefits. By translating those benefits into dollar values and other measurable metrics, practitioners can highlight the many impacts of these projects, including cost-effectiveness to make a financially grounded case for support.
This interactive two-part workshop series—hosted by the Urban Waters Learning Network, an initiative of River Network and Groundwork USA, and presented by Earth Economics—explores how ecological economics can strengthen advocacy for watershed restoration.
By joining this two-part series, participants will gain:
- Practical knowledge of ecological economics and valuation methods
- Strategies for applying these tools across project stages
- Insights from practitioners who have successfully integrated valuation into their work
- Access to tools, data, and resources to support community-driven projects
Part One: Integrating Ecological Economics into Watershed Restoration Projects
Date & Time: February 25, 2–3pm ET
The first session in this two-part series provides information on when, how, and why to integrate ecological economics into watershed restoration projects. The session will feature guest speakers from Groundwork Affiliates to share how they used valuation to make case for support for a major infrastructure project. We’ll also incorporate other case studies that feature valuation as a tool for moving projects toward implementation.
Key Topics:
- Defining ecological economics and ecosystem services valuation
- Identifying the ecosystem services created by watersheds
- Quantifying the benefits provided by nature-based solutions
- Integrating valuation into restoration projects
Part Two: Communicating the Real Value of Nature-Based Solutions
Date & Time: March 18, 2–3pm ET
Building on Session 1 “Integrating Ecological Economics into Watershed Restoration Projects”, this second session focuses on tools and strategies for applying and communicating ecological economics with advocacy and evaluation outcomes in mind. The session will feature insights from Healthy Community Services.
Key Topics:
- Supporting watershed restoration projects with valuation
- Strengthening local advocacy and securing funding using valuation
- Connecting participants with free and low-cost resources project managers can use to replicate this work