Companies and others need to value biodiversity. This is difficult, but we have the solution at Endangered Wildlife OÜ and can provide the underlying quality biodiversity data.
Our latest valuation is that of common river hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious). The hippo’s contribution and value needs to be understood for their conservation, the ecosystem’s benefit, and the benefit of local economies and investors.
Hippos play a unique and vital role in South Africa’s environment. Their contribution to the carbon cycle and the health of river ecosystems is significant. Endangered Wildlife OÜ can help calculate and understand the value of this unique contribution to the environment and conservation. Hippos’ most crucial economic value lies in tourism. These animals are popular, and tourists are willing to pay to see them.
Endangered Wildlife OÜ Hippo Values
We have developed seven core measurements to help stakeholders understand the value of hippos value in a local area or region.
- Aesthetic value is traditionally defined as the value created by the beauty of an ecosystem and is based on a willingness to pay.
- Carbon Value: the Value of the CO2e removed from a local atmosphere by a hippo and what it will remove in the future.
- Economic value is the value created by hippos and its economic potential.
- Hedge Value is the financial value a stakeholder would be willing to pay to prevent hippos from falling below the minimum viability population threshold.
- Species Existence Value is the base economic value that the hippo generates and the equivalent opportunity cost to society if they decline in numbers or go extinct.
- Impact Value is the added value created by sustaining the number of hippos through conservation or species management while considering external factors.
- The Total Conservation Value is the sum of the Species’ Existence Value and the Impact Value; this shows the total value created by the hippos.
How it works
Below are the results of the Endangered Wildlife OÜ valuation of a hippo population in North Eastern South Africa (with a base estimate of c.a. 4,100 hippos):
- Aesthetic Value: EUR 1.2bn
- Carbon Value: EUR 0.0m
- Economic Value: EUR 39.1m
- Hedge Value: EUR 75.3m
- Impact Value: EUR 53.9m
- Total Conservation Value: EUR 1.3bn
This implies an average Total Conservation Value per Individual of EUR 325,113
What can our Valuation of the Hippo do?
Our tools and metrics mean that the value of the hippo can be calculated comprehensively.
- This can help conservationists and environmentalists make better decisions.
- Show the contribution of hippos to the local population.
- Help companies and investors to make the right decisions and increase the return on their investment.
The Endangered Wildlife OÜ valuation can help conserve the hippo and other species. It can also help decision-makers benefit local communities and economies.
About Endangered Wildlife OÜ
We financially value biodiversity using our Biodiversity Database and Biodiversity Valuator – which allows you to track and monitor the increase in biodiversity impact value, assess biodiversity risk, and integrate biodiversity into decision-making. We assist our clients to understand the financial value of the biodiversity that they affect, and to realise the possible value at risk due to their operations for reporting and decision-making.
