The economic value of erosion: integrating land use changes and nutrient prices

This paper presents a methodological framework for estimating the economic value of soil erosion with a practical application to the region of Navarre in Spain. This framework is based on the coordinated use of land use/land cover change (LULCC) models, the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and replacement cost (RC) models. Previous erosion literature has considered either LULCC and RUSLE type models, overlooking the relevance of economic valuation, or RUSLE and RC type models, ignoring the influence of land use changes. In addition, those that cover economic valuation tend to provide a static valuation. This methodology overcomes these limitations. Based on observed data (2005–2023) and projections (2024–2030), the applied analysis shows the quantification and economic valuation of the impact of land use changes on erosion in Navarre, showing a slight decrease in erosion with a slight increase in erosion valuation. It also produces spatially explicit, dynamic and aggregated results that capture the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of erosion changes in Navarre, varying from −19% to −4.6%, depending on the areas. Moreover, the methodology identifies critical geographical areas where erosion is intense and economically significant. This is particularly valuable as it provides a basis for precise, cost-efficient decision-making.