Why are estimates of ecosystem benefits needed?
¥To justify and decide how to allocate public spending on conservation, preservation, or restoration initiatives.
¥To consider the publicÕs values, and encourage public participation and support for environmental initiatives. 
¥To compare the benefits of different projects or programs.
¥To prioritize conservation or restoration projects.
¥To maximize the environmental benefits per dollar spent.
¥To assess tradeoffs and resource allocations even for decisions involving ESA, health and safety issues where economic considerations are secondary.