Cost–Benefit Analysis of Soil Degradation and Restoration - Principles of Sustainable Soil Management in Agroecosystems - page 227

10 Cost-Benefit Analysis

of Soil Degradation
and Restoration*

Fred J. Hitzhusen and Sarah E. Kiger

CONTENTS
10.1 Magnitude and Economic Impacts of Soil Erosion ...................................... 227
10.2 Measuring Costs and Benefits ...................................................................... 230
10.3 Types and Measures of Environmental Economic Value ............................. 233
10.4 Case Studies .................................................................................................. 235
10.4.1 Soil and Land Degradation and Ag Growth Model (Case 1) ........... 235
10.4.1.1 Analysis and General Results ............................................ 237
10.4.1.2 Summary and Conclusions ................................................ 238
10.4.1.3 Follow-Up Analysis ........................................................... 239
10.4.2 DR Valdesia Hydro Reservoir Sedimentation (Case 2) .................... 239
10.4.2.1 Study Methodology ............................................................240
10.4.2.2 Results and Implications of Analysis ................................. 241
10.4.3 Some Ohio Evidence of Soil Erosion Off- Site Economic
Impacts (Case 3) ............................................................................... 243
10.4.3.1 Methods and Results of Studies ......................................... 243
10.4.4 OSU Studies on Ohio Downstream Benefits of CRP (Case 4) ......... 245
10.4.4.1 Methods and Results of Studies ......................................... 245
10.5 Summary and Conclusions ........................................................................... 250
Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 252
References .............................................................................................................. 252

10.1 MAGNITUDE AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF SOIL EROSION
Soil erosion and resulting sedimentation problems continue to be major concerns
throughout the world. Dregne (1972) evaluated the general state of soil and land
degradation worldwide in the 1970s. Much of Southwest Asia, large areas of China,
India and Southeast Asia, Northern Africa, Central America, and Mexico suffer

* Helpful review comments have been provided by OSU colleague and former Chief of Soil and Water,
Ohio DNR, David Hanselmann. This paper will appear as an invited chapter in the forthcoming book
Advances in Soil Science , with a focus on principles of sustainable soil management in agroecosystems.

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