RES 2025062 - Laserfiche WebLink

EXHIBIT A University California, Davis, & University of California, ANR, Natasha Batista (Stanford University), O'Herron & Company (Meeting Facilitators) PROJECT BACKGROUND The Altamont Landfill Open Space Committee (ALOSC) is interested in basing their land acquisition and/or conservation easement purchases on scientific research and findings related to the presence and movement of native wildlife (plant and animal) species throughout the Settlement area. There are several existing approaches for evaluating the contribution of environmental systems to human well-being in an economic framework. Some approaches measure the value of"ecosystem services" provided while others capture the value individuals may have for natural systems exclusive of actual use. This information will support ALOSC decision making about lands to be acquired in fee title or permanent easement, in cooperation with privateor public landowners interested in preserving all or portions of their property. SCOPE OF WORK Phase I We will begin the project by communicating with landowners and landowner/resource representative organizations (e.g., Alameda County RCD, Natural Resource Conservation Service, California Rangeland Trust). We will then conduct an extensive review of the peer-reviewed and technical literature describing methods for valuing and paying for ecosystem services, focusing on wildlife habitat benefits. From this literature base, we will develop a model method suitable for valuing ecosystem services and paying for these services in Alameda County. From the range of published methods we identify, we will describe a method suitable for ALOSC to use in valuing wildlife-ecosystem services and thus justify paying for these services. We will vet this method with local and regional experts in valuation and payment systems for wildlife habitat and with ALOSC and its constituent governments. We will finalize a proposed method for valuing and paying for wildlife ecosystem services. 3