ADVANCES OF OVERSEAS STUDIES ON ECONOMIC VALUATION OF BIODIVERSITY
国外生物多样性经济价值评估研究进展

The valuation of economic value of biodiversity becomes more and more meaningful in both theoretical and practical aspects. Besides, because of its externality, publicity and uncertainly, economic value of biodiversity becomes focus and difficult topic within the field of resource economics, ecological and environmental economics. Overseas scholars have done a lot of researches on the theories, methods and applications related to the problem lately. Biodiversity generally includes three levels as genetics, species and ecosystem. The paper reviews the studies of value types, valuation techniques and typical study cases in the western countries. Use values and non use values are two major value types of biodiversity. Use values include direct and indirect use values and non use values include option values, bequest values and existent values. Valuation methods are divided into three kinds including market valuation method, alternative market method and contingent valuation method. We focus on the contingent valuation method and its application, and particularly expatiate its superiority and deficiency and disputation in the academic circle. Representative applying studies are summarized according to the value types, and one CVM study case about forestry biodiversity conservation in South East Australia is put forward. Finally, the status of economic valuation of biodiversity is analyzed and the deficiency and inspiration are pointed out for future studies in China.