5 - Agriculture, forests and ecosystems

Summary

Summary

In this chapter, we discuss the impacts of the classical air pollutants on agriculture and ecosystems; we also consider some impacts of agriculture, in particular those due to the use of nitrogen fertilizer. Exposure–response functions for agricultural impacts are established and monetary valuation of the losses is straightforward, at least for marginal changes, as described in Section 5.2. The current practice of agriculture also has significant impacts on the environment, and in Section 5.3 we estimate the damage costs due to the use of nitrogen fertilizer, followed by damage costs of pesticides in Section 5.4. By contrast with the effect of pollution on agricultural crops, most ecosystem impacts are far more difficult to quantify, and more so, to express in monetary terms. In Section 5.5.1 we explain why monetary valuation, in particular via contingent valuation, is so problematic for ecosystem impacts. Some examples of impacts are described in Section 5.5.2. In Section 5.5.3 we present an interesting cost–benefit analysis of pollution abatement, to reduce the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. This is followed in Section 5.5.4 by the estimation of ecosystem impacts and costs carried out in the NEEDS phase of ExternE. Finally, we mention an interesting assessment of the total value of ecosystem services; even though it does not enable the determination of marginal damage costs, it is a compelling reminder of the dangers of destroying our ecosystems.