226
of compensatory restoration of a habitat that is
required to provide for ecological loss of services
of the resource due to an injury event (Pioch
2010 ). The HEA method uses a discounting algorithm to value a natural resource asset which is
equal to all future services of that asset after degradation due to injury, combined with the computed value of any compensatory action. The
HEA method provides a quantitative and temporal measure of the loss and gain of ecological services of a habitat for a set period of time (Roach
and Wade 2006 ). The purpose of this paper is to
provide an overview of the application of this
method to an actual case study, using an enhanced
and translated (to the French language) version of
the Visual_HEA software, which is a useful tool
to automate the HEA process. For conciseness,
we direct the reader to studies by Unsworth and
Bishop ( 1994 ), Mazzotta et al. ( 1994 ), Milon and
Dodge ( 2001 ), or Dunford et al. ( 2004 ) for complete review and information about the HEA
procedure.
2.2
Visual_HEA v2.6_FR Software
The Visual_HEA computer program was created
by NCRI
6 in 2006 to provide a consistent and
easy way for resource managers to perform the
standard HEA calculation method, leveraging
technology to perform the tedious and repetitive
calculations required. The program was written
with a robust programming language (Visual
Basic) and targets the Windows operating system
platform. Visual_HEA provides a rich graphical
user interface which accepts user-defi ned parameters that are required to perform the HEA. These
input parameters are based on assumptions of
loss and gain in relation to pre- and post-injury of
a resource combined with any compensatory
action performed to mitigate the injured resource.
Input parameters are graphically depicted in the
user interface and calculations are automatically
performed based on user inputs. Resultant values
from the analysis are presented graphically, with
the option to output the analysis results to an ascii
6 National Coral Reef Institute, Florida, USA
text fi le or Portable Document Format (PDF) fi le.
Since its introduction in 2006, Visual_HEA has
been downloaded 5,000 times and is used globally
to value habitat loss due to injury using the standard HEA calculation method. Kohler and Dodge
( 2006 ) provide a more in depth discussion on the
mechanics of the program, required parameter
inputs, and algorithm calculations. Additional
information about the software and a download
link can be obtained by visiting the NCRI
Visual_HEA.
7
2.3
Input Parameters
The following is a brief review of the input
parameters required by Visual_HEA to perform
the HEA calculation method:
• Relative values of pre-injury services and
compensatory (at equilibrium) services
• These values delineate the perceived value of
ecological services of the habitat being analyzed pre and post injury, as well as the value
of any compensatory action completed to mitigate damage to the injured site.
• Baseline levels of services
• These parameters, expressed as percentages,
designate level of services that were provided
by the site before the injury occurred.
• Discount rate
• This parameter is expressed as a percentage
rate per time unit. The discount rate functions
under the presumption that future restored services are more highly valued initially and then
discounted as time lapses over the duration of
the analysis period. Conversely, the values of
past services are increased over the analysis
period subject to the discount rate. Future and
past ecological service calculations function
independently and can be computed for different temporal durations.
• Year of claim
• This parameter indicates the year the claim is
made, which can be actual or arbitrary to provide a starting point for analysis.
7 Website at the following location: http://www.nova.edu/
ocean/visual_hea/
P. Sylvain
of compensatory restoration of a habitat that is
required to provide for ecological loss of services
of the resource due to an injury event (Pioch
2010 ). The HEA method uses a discounting algorithm to value a natural resource asset which is
equal to all future services of that asset after degradation due to injury, combined with the computed value of any compensatory action. The
HEA method provides a quantitative and temporal measure of the loss and gain of ecological services of a habitat for a set period of time (Roach
and Wade 2006 ). The purpose of this paper is to
provide an overview of the application of this
method to an actual case study, using an enhanced
and translated (to the French language) version of
the Visual_HEA software, which is a useful tool
to automate the HEA process. For conciseness,
we direct the reader to studies by Unsworth and
Bishop ( 1994 ), Mazzotta et al. ( 1994 ), Milon and
Dodge ( 2001 ), or Dunford et al. ( 2004 ) for complete review and information about the HEA
procedure.
2.2
Visual_HEA v2.6_FR Software
The Visual_HEA computer program was created
by NCRI
6 in 2006 to provide a consistent and
easy way for resource managers to perform the
standard HEA calculation method, leveraging
technology to perform the tedious and repetitive
calculations required. The program was written
with a robust programming language (Visual
Basic) and targets the Windows operating system
platform. Visual_HEA provides a rich graphical
user interface which accepts user-defi ned parameters that are required to perform the HEA. These
input parameters are based on assumptions of
loss and gain in relation to pre- and post-injury of
a resource combined with any compensatory
action performed to mitigate the injured resource.
Input parameters are graphically depicted in the
user interface and calculations are automatically
performed based on user inputs. Resultant values
from the analysis are presented graphically, with
the option to output the analysis results to an ascii
6 National Coral Reef Institute, Florida, USA
text fi le or Portable Document Format (PDF) fi le.
Since its introduction in 2006, Visual_HEA has
been downloaded 5,000 times and is used globally
to value habitat loss due to injury using the standard HEA calculation method. Kohler and Dodge
( 2006 ) provide a more in depth discussion on the
mechanics of the program, required parameter
inputs, and algorithm calculations. Additional
information about the software and a download
link can be obtained by visiting the NCRI
Visual_HEA.
7
2.3
Input Parameters
The following is a brief review of the input
parameters required by Visual_HEA to perform
the HEA calculation method:
• Relative values of pre-injury services and
compensatory (at equilibrium) services
• These values delineate the perceived value of
ecological services of the habitat being analyzed pre and post injury, as well as the value
of any compensatory action completed to mitigate damage to the injured site.
• Baseline levels of services
• These parameters, expressed as percentages,
designate level of services that were provided
by the site before the injury occurred.
• Discount rate
• This parameter is expressed as a percentage
rate per time unit. The discount rate functions
under the presumption that future restored services are more highly valued initially and then
discounted as time lapses over the duration of
the analysis period. Conversely, the values of
past services are increased over the analysis
period subject to the discount rate. Future and
past ecological service calculations function
independently and can be computed for different temporal durations.
• Year of claim
• This parameter indicates the year the claim is
made, which can be actual or arbitrary to provide a starting point for analysis.
7 Website at the following location: http://www.nova.edu/
ocean/visual_hea/
P. Sylvain