Non-monetary valuation using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: Using a strength-of-evidence approach to inform choices among alternatives.

This article demonstrates an approach to Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis that compares non-monetary ecosystem service (ES) outcomes for environmental decision making. ES outcomes are often inadequately defined and characterized by imprecision and uncertainty. Outranking methods enrich our understanding of the imperfect knowledge of ES outcomes by allowing decision makers to closely examine and apply preference measures to relationships among the outcomes. We explain the methodological assumptions related to the PROMETHEE methods (Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluation), and apply them to a wetland restoration planning study in Rhode Island, USA. In the study, we partnered with a watershed management organization to evaluate four wetland restoration alternatives for their abilities to supply five ES: flood water regulation, scenic landscapes, learning opportunities, recreation, and birds. Twenty-two benefit indicators were identified for the ES as well as one indicator for social equity and one indicator for reliability of ES provision. We developed preference functions to characterize the strength of evidence across estimated indicator values between pairs of alternatives. We ranked the alternatives based on these preferences and weights on ES relevant to different planning contexts. We discuss successes and challenges of implementing PROMETHEE, including feedback from our partners who utilized the methods.

[1]  R. Keeney,et al.  Advances in Decision Analysis: Practical Value Models , 2007 .

[2]  Denis Bouyssou,et al.  A General Model of Preference Aggregation , 1997 .

[3]  Adrienne Grêt-Regamey,et al.  Review of decision support tools to operationalize the ecosystem services concept , 2017 .

[4]  P. Vincke,et al.  Pseudo-orders: Definition, properties and numerical representation , 1987 .

[5]  Theodor J. Stewart,et al.  Multiple criteria decision analysis - an integrated approach , 2001 .

[6]  David M. Martin,et al.  Combining ecosystem services assessment with structured decision making to support ecological restoration planning , 2018, Environmental Management.

[7]  L. Wainger,et al.  Realizing the Potential of Ecosystem Services: A Framework for Relating Ecological Changes to Economic Benefits , 2011, Environmental management.

[8]  Bernard Roy,et al.  Problems and methods with multiple objective functions , 1971, Math. Program..

[9]  José Rui Figueira,et al.  Discriminating thresholds as a tool to cope with imperfect knowledge in multiple criteria decision aiding: Theoretical results and practical issues , 2014 .

[10]  Matthew A. Williamson,et al.  Decision Support Frameworks and Tools for Conservation , 2018 .

[11]  D.M. Martin,et al.  Non-monetary valuation using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: Sensitivity of additive aggregation methods to scaling and compensation assumptions , 2018, Ecosystem services.

[12]  David M. Martin,et al.  A proposed framework to systematically design and objectively evaluate non-dominated restoration tradeoffs for watershed planning and management , 2016 .

[13]  Helen M. Regan,et al.  A TAXONOMY AND TREATMENT OF UNCERTAINTY FOR ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY , 2002 .

[14]  G. Daily,et al.  Modeling multiple ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, commodity production, and tradeoffs at landscape scales , 2009 .

[15]  Benjamin P. Bryant,et al.  Uncertainty assessment in ecosystem services analyses: Seven challenges and practical responses , 2017 .

[16]  Salvatore Greco,et al.  An Overview of ELECTRE Methods and their Recent Extensions , 2013 .

[17]  R. Benayoun,et al.  Linear programming with multiple objective functions: Step method (stem) , 1971, Math. Program..

[18]  Jean Pierre Brans,et al.  HOW TO SELECT AND HOW TO RANK PROJECTS: THE PROMETHEE METHOD , 1986 .

[19]  H. Raiffa,et al.  Decisions with Multiple Objectives , 1993 .

[20]  B. Roy.  Decision-aid and decision-making , 1990 .

[21]  B. Roy.  THE OUTRANKING APPROACH AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF ELECTRE METHODS , 1991 .

[22]  E. Choo,et al.  Interpretation of criteria weights in multicriteria decision making , 1999 .

[23]  Bernard Roy,et al.  Main sources of inaccurate determination, uncertainty and imprecision in decision models , 1989 .

[24]  David M. Martin,et al.  Incorporating social preferences into the ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a case study in the Yampa‐White River basin, Colorado , 2015 .

[25]  Denis Bouyssou,et al.  Some remarks on the notion of compensation in MCDM , 1986 .

[26]  Darius J. Semmens,et al.  A comparative assessment of decision-support tools for ecosystem services quantification and valuation , 2013 .

[27]  Robin Gregory,et al.  Structured Decision Making: A Practical Guide to Environmental Management Choices , 2012 .

[28]  Lynn A. Maguire,et al.  Resolving Environmental Disputes: a Framework Incorporating Decision Analysis and Dispute Resolution Techniques , 1994 .

[29]  K. Chan,et al.  Rethinking ecosystem services to better address and navigate cultural values , 2012 .

[30]  T. Saaty.  How to Make a Decision: The Analytic Hierarchy Process , 1990 .

[31]  Thomas Elmqvist,et al.  Bridging the gap between ecosystem service assessments and land-use planning through Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) , 2016 .

[32]  C. G. Druschke,et al.  Manager Perspectives on Communication and Public Engagement in Ecological Restoration Project Success , 2015 .