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Discover Ecosystems

By Ecosystems Mission Area
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Detailed Description

Ecosystems and the wild things that live in them are the foundation of our conservation heritage and an economic asset to current and future generations of Americans. Healthy ecosystems support living things and natural processes that bring prosperity and enjoyment for all Americans. 

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$46.3 BILLION 
Estimated economic output of DOI-managed lands with 378 million visits estimating $26.1 billion in value added supported by about 346,900 jobs.1

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$1.22 TRILLION 
The recorded total costs of invasive species between 1960 and 2020.2  

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$235+ BILLION 
Worth of annual global food production relies on pollination from honeybees, native bees, and flies.3  

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$50 MILLION
Nationwide estimate of the average annual costs of harmful algal blooms, representing $20 million for public health.4 

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21 SPECIES
Federally listed threatened or endangered species in the U.S. for which road mortality is among the major threats to the survival of the species.5

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$3 BILLION 
Annual savings insect eating bats provide the agriculture industry that could be lost with continued bat declines because of White-nose Syndrome (WNS).6 

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$16.5 BILLION 
Cost of direct damages by wildland fires in the 2021 across the U.S.7 

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$9.6 BILLION 
Average annual cost of drought, which is a serious hazard with substantial socioeconomic risks for the U.S.8   

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$54 BILLION
Total expected annual economic losses from most types of damage caused by hurricane winds and storm-related flooding.9  

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$163.4 BILLION 
Estimated economic output for conventional and renewable energy projects on DOI lands.10   
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/afr20-book-508-final.pdf 

 

ECOSYSTEMS
science and data helping to answer serious questions

POLICY MAKERS
“What is the economic impact of invasive species on the U.S. economy?”

WILDLIFE MANAGERS
“What is the current and future status of species of conservation concern?”

ENERGY DEVELOPERS
“Where would development yield the most gain with the least impact on fish and wildlife habitats?”

LAND MANAGERS
“Where are critical big game migration routes for land-use planning?”

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
“What lingering impacts will our community see from recent wild-land fire?”

WATER MANAGERS
“What are the future projections of water availability in large basins across the U.S.?”

EMERGENCY MANAGERS
“What ecosystem impacts from hurricanes and associated flooding will be of most concern to public health and safety?”

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
“Why should fish and wildlife and their habitats matter to me?”

Sources:

  1. https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/afr21-book-final508c.pdf
  2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151318
  3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bayer/2019/10/14/the-value-of-pollinators-…
  4. https://hab.whoi.edu/impacts/impacts-socioeconomic/
  5. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/08034/08034.pdf
  6. https://www.fws.gov/midwest/news/ImportanceOfBats.html
  7. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/reviewing-the-horrid-global-…
  8. https://www.drought.gov/news/high-cost-drought
  9. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/55019
  10. https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/afr20-book-508-final.pdf

Learn more at www.usgs.gov/ECOSYSTEMS

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.