As the world’s largest open-access repository of ES valuation data, the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) is a highly trusted resource, relied upon by ministries, international organizations, financial institutions, and other key stakeholders to support challenges related to ES and natural capital management. 

The Challenge:

At the time of the project, a significant portion of these records (more than 50%) had not undergone external expert review. Independent data validation is a crucial step in ensuring accuracy and reliability, as it strengthens data quality, enhances trust in the dataset, and encourages broader adoption of ESVD as a decision-support tool.

Our Approach:

Recognizing our expertise in scientific ES valuation methodologies and data, ESVD’s managing organizations entrusted us with reviewing and refining its valuation records. Our role involved a meticulous external review of data to enhance the database’s overall integrity & information quality. We conducted a validation process by analyzing data and reviewing source studies to compare the reported scientific information with its interpretation, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and correct application.  

Outcomes & Impact:

Over the course of the review, we: 

• Carefully assessed over 500 value records, cross-checking for accuracy, consistency, and completeness. 

• Identified and added over 100 new records from relevant studies that had been previously overlooked during the initial data entry process.

• Significantly enhance the reliability of the stored data and strengthened the confidence of users towards the tool. 

This collaboration underscores our technical excellence in ES valuation and the trust placed in us to deliver high-quality, reliable data-driven insights. For the partners, it reinforced the integrity and trustworthiness of ESVD, enhancing its role as a critical tool for governments, researchers, and decision-makers worldwide. By improving data quality, we helped ensure that ESVD remains a highly reliable resource for supporting informed, data-driven decisions in ecosystem services and natural capital management.