What Role Does Planning Have in the Creation of Ecosystem Service Markets? Evidence from Two Cases in Oregon

Abstract

Ecosystem service markets (ESMs) facilitate the buying and selling of credits that represent specific environmental improvements, like a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide or a waterborne pollutant, such as phosphorous or nitrogen. The popularity of this institution has the potential to change land-use planning, especially at the regional level. This comparative analysis of two prominent ESMs in Oregon finds that these institutions can severely restrict opportunities for public participation in land-use decision making, reduce the transparency of measurement technologies used to target restoration activities, and prioritize privately owned land outside of urban areas for restoration investments, thereby limiting public access to green spaces.