United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
EPA/600/R-13/ORD-004914
August 2013
FINAL ECOSYSTEM GOODS
AND SERVICES CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM (FEGS-CS)
BY
Dixon H. Landers and Amanda M. Nahlik
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Western Ecology Division
Corvallis, Oregon 97333
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NOTICE
This document describes a Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System. It was
funded wholly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and
Development (USEPA-ORD). It has been subject to review by the National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) and Western Ecology Division (WED) and
approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the
Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use.
Please note that this is a large document. Even though all of the pages have been formatted for
letter or legal size paper, some of the Appendices may be better suited to viewing on a
computer screen. Please consider reviewing this document electronically. If a hard-copy is
necessary, please print double-sided.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Rick Linthurst was the National Program Director for EPA's Ecosystem Services Research Project
as well as the director for the Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program under
which the FEGS-CS work was performed. We thank him for the support we received and his
vision in recognizing the importance of building a solid foundation for incorporating ecological
benefits in decision making. The authors also thank Marc Russell (US EPA-ORD Gulf Ecology
Division), Paul Ringold (US EPA-ORD-WED), Matt Weber (US EPA-ORD-WED), Mike Papenfus (US
EPA-ORD-WED), Randall Bruins (US EPA Ecological Exposure Research Division), Bob Ozretich
(US EPA-ORD-WED), John Powers (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board), Charles
Rhodes (Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow), Kenneth Bagstad (US Geological
Survey), Rudolf de Groot (Wageningen University and Research Centre, Netherlands), and
Jonathan Kochmer (Earth Economics) for their insight and comments on earlier drafts of this
report. Roy Haines-Young (University of Nottingham, United Kingdom), Daniel Clarke (United
Nations), and Tim Sullivan (E&S Environmental Chemistry, Inc.) provided reviews and comments
that improved the quality of this document. We would like to acknowledge Ellen Cooter (US
EPA-ORD Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Devision (AMAD)) and Robin Dennis (US EPA-
ORD-AMAD) for providing us their expertise in atmospheric science and Jim Weaver (US EPA-
ORD-Ecosystems Research Division) for providing us his expertise in groundwater science.
Many of the ideas presented in this document were developed over years discussions, chiefly
among Paul Ringold (US EPA-ORD-WED), James Boyd (Resources for the Future (RFF)), and Matt
Weber (US EPA-ORD-WED), and workshops, including those held by the US EPA in Denver,
Colorado (Ringold et al. 2011; Ringold et al. 2009) and in Corvallis, Oregon in 2012, which
included Richard Adams (Oregon State University, USA), Allen Brooks (US EPA-ORD-WED), Treg
Christopher (Oregon State University, USA), Jana Compton (US EPA-ORD-WED), Robert Deal
(United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service), Ted DeWitt (US EPA-ORD-
WED), Sally Duncan (Oregon State University, USA), Mary Kentula (US EPA-ORD-WED), Jeff Kline
iv
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(USDA Forest Service), Steve Kline (US EPA-ORD-WED), Bob McKane (US EPA-ORD-WED), Tony
Olsen (US EPA-ORD-WED), Mike Papenfus (US EPA-ORD-WED), Matt Weber (US EPA-ORD-
WED), and Jerry Whittaker (USDA Agricultural Research Service). A teleconference held in July
2012 in which Jim Boyd (RFF), Paul Ringold (US EPA-ORD-WED), Matt Weber (US EPA-ORD-
WED), Alan Krupnick (RFF), Jenn Richkus (Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International), and
Mary Barber (RTI International) participated, resulted in ideas from which the FEGS boundaries
in this document were created. Please note that acknowledgement of intellectual contribution
to idea development or editorial quality of this document does not imply absolute conceptual
agreement on behalf of those acknowledged.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Any questions and/or constructive comments are welcome and may be directed
to FEGS.CS@epa.gov. Because we expect that the classification system presented in this
document will be updated periodically as more information is collected and more people use
the FEGS-CS, we have established a forum where the most up-to-date classification documents
may be found. This forum is located at http://geoplatforml.epa.gov/FEGS.CS/. In addition to
hosting the latest (i.e., future) versions of documents, this website will also allow users to query
the FEGS-CS in such a way that they may create standard, customized FEGS Matrices for their
individual needs and interests. We will require users of this site to provide identifying
information (name, affiliation, email, and intended use). This will allow us to follow-up with
users via email and request comments and input. We intend to update the FEGS-CS annually
based on input and comments received, as well as internally generated improvements, and we
will notify identified users when a new version of this document is available.
THE CITATION FOR THIS DOCUMENT IS:
DH Landers and Nahlik AM. 2013. Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System
(FEGS-CS). EPA/600/R-13/ORD-004914. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Research and Development, Washington, D.C.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I
MOTirF IV
I V\J I l^t -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~™~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~™~~~~~~~~~~~-| v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V
riTATIOM \/
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tnDL.t. \Jt *^\Jt*l I tlv I J —————— —————— —————— —————— —————— —————— —————— —————— —————— —————— v i
1. INTRODUCTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
2. DEFINING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1
3nF\/FI ODMFMT OF THF FFfi^ C^ 7
• L/t v tLWr i vi tiM i vn int. rtvj j x«j ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— j
31
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3JJ. Determining the Grain of the FEGS-CS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
3.2. ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSES AND SUB-CLASSES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
3.3. BENEFICIARY CATEGORIES AND SUB-CATEGORIES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
3.4. FINAL ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES (PEGS) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
3.4.1. PEGS and Environmental Partitioning --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
3.4.2. PEGS Provided by the Atmosphere ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18
3.4.3. Environmental Stressors and Pressures and the Provision of PEGS ------------------------------------------------- 18
3AA FfY^C l/orcuc Ronofil-c 7Q
J.^T.^T. ll-\3*J VCIJUJ LJCIICJILJ J.J
3.4.5. How PEGS Minimizes Double-Counting ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20
4. DISTINGUISHING PEGS FROM NON-FEGS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21
4. 1. HUMAN-DOMINATED GOODS AND SERVICES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24
4.2. NON-RENEWABLE GOODS AND SERVICES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 25
4.3. INCIDENTAL BY-PRODUCTS FROM INTENSIVELY MANAGED ENVIRONMENTS ----------------------------------------------------------- 26
4.4. UNTANGLING INTERMEDIATE ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES FROM FEGS -------------------------------------------------------- 27
4.4.1. Biodiversity ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 7
4
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5. CONNECTION BETWEEN FEGS AND INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS ------------------------------------------- 29
6. USING THE FEGS-CS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31
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6.5. NEXT STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING THE FEGS APPROACH ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34
7. CITED REFERENCES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36
APPENDICES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39
vi
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PEGS MATRICES (LISTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL SUB-CLASS)
1 1 R/\/f/?C dA/O ^TDPAH/I^ /I (Z
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12. WETLANDS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 51
13. LAKES AND PONDS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55
14. ESTUARIES AND NEAR COASTAL MARINE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60
16. GROUNDWATER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 68
21. FORESTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71
24. GRASSLANDS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 81
25. SCRUBLANDS /SHRUBLANDS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 85
J ~7 Tl IhlDQA Q 7
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28. ICE AND SNOW -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 96
31. ATMOSPHERE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 99
1 Note that the Environmental Classes, Beneficiary Categorization, Summary Matrix, or PEGS Matrix tables in the
Appendices may be accessed differently depending on the file format of the document. If the reader is viewing the
Appendices as an Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file, these specific tables are delineated via bookmarks (with the PEGS
Matrices comprised of each of the 15 Environmental Sub-Classes). On the other hand, if the reader is viewing the
database as a Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file, specific tables can be found as separate worksheets (i.e., tabs).
vii
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FINAL ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM (FEGS-CS)
1. INTRODUCTION
This document introduces, defines, and describes a classification system2 for ecosystem
services. By using the concept of Final Ecosystem Goods and Services (FEGS) to define a specific
group of ecosystem services, the authors standardize ecosystem services and provide a solid
foundation for their further use and development. The concepts and specifics presented in this
document represent the first comprehensive FEGS-CS in existence; therefore, we fully
acknowledge that as more people use the FEGS-CS, some of the concepts may be clarified and
specifics may be modified (see "Questions and Comments" in the Index for details).
The audience for this document is potentially large and includes individuals, communities, or
firms in the public sector, private sector, and non-profit organizations that wish to measure,
quantify, map, model, and/or value a standard, but complete, set of ecosystem services
anywhere on earth. Technical practitioners (e.g., social scientists, economists, natural
scientists, decision-makers, etc.) of ecosystem services will likely appreciate the relatively fine
separation of ecosystem services achieved in this classification system and the common
language established in this document to efficiently communicate across disciplines and to the
public.
2. DEFINING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Ecosystem services have become an oft used construct with which to describe, in general and
also in very specific terms, benefits provided by nature and valued by people. There are many
definitions for the term "ecosystem services" (see Nahlik et al. 2012 for an in depth discussion
2 While researching the literature, it became apparent that many terms were used in many different ways or even
undefined. Because one of our goals in creating the FEGS-CS is to bring structure and consistency to the ecosystem
services community, we felt it was crucial to define the terms we use so they are and can be used by others
without ambiguity. Throughout this document, we introduce new terms using bold type and provide definitions.
If these terms are not immediately defined in the text, please refer to the Definitions Appendix. It should be noted
that several of the terms, such as "medium" and "subsister", listed in the Definitions Appendix are not explicitly
discussed in this text but are used in the FEGS Matrices Appendix.
FEGS-CS Version 2.8a Page 1 DH Landers and AM Nahlik
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of existing definitions), but many of
the widely used definitions are not
specific enough to result in consistent
and explicit identification of
ecosystem services (Text Box 1).
Furthermore, common categorization
schemes for ecosystem services, such
as "supporting", "regulating",
"provisioning", "cultural" (MEA 2005)
are heuristically relevant but do not
provide a rigid framework in which
ecosystem services can be identified
on the landscape and explicitly
associated with people. While the
notion of ecosystem services has
been well-received by many sectors
of society since the publication of the
2005 Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment (MEA 2005), there still
exists a glaring need for:
• a united set of concepts that
includes a definition of terms
from which individual goods
and services can be specified,
• metrics and indicators that
can be estimated in the
environment, and
• specific, identifiable linkages
between ecosystem services
and human well-being
(Ringold et al. 2013; Nahlik et
al. 2012a).
There are some large entities such as
the United Nations, United Kingdom,
Text Box 1. Ecosystem service literature is full of
inconsistencies
After conducting a review of 74 publications that used the
term "ecosystem services" in the title or as a keyword, 1260
ecosystem services were identified, of which 512 were
unique. It is evident from the examples below that the term
"ecosystem service" is used loosely and inconsistently in the
literature.
Examoles of uniaue uses of the term ecosvstem services
include: hydrologic cycle, SOx levels, pollution control,
recycling, dung removal, flood protection, pollution dilution,
self purification, water quality, natural hazard prevention,
erosion reduction, maintenance of air quality, renewal of soil
fertility, weathering of rock, potential denitrification, sulfur
cycle, bioturbation, morphology, iconic species, plants,
oxygen, refugia, latex, bushmeat, seafood, products for
material science, oil and gas, low-sediment water for
hydropower, water supply, herbs, timber, fodder, summer
cottages, retirement, noise abatement, artistic inspiration,
cultural diversity, agriculture, spiritual enrichment,
photography, bird watching, picking mushrooms, recreation,
educational values, access to mates and being loved,
aesthetics, immaterial value, ecosystem use, genetic storage,
biodiversity, life cycle, pollination, resilience, population
control, property value, risk-aversion, options, etc.
The unique ecosystem services were further categorized by
processes/functions (39.1%), structural components (8.0%),
goods (18.8%), human uses (21.3%), or securities (12.9%).
Although lumping ecosystem services into these categorizes
does not facilitate measuring, quantifying, mapping,
modeling, valuing, or accounting of ecosystem services, the
categories are an effective heuristic tool. It is evident that
the majority of ecosystem services identified in the literature
are environmental processes or functions. This is particularly
an issue because of double counting.
There is a vital need for an ecosystem services classification
system that is built upon definitions, is consistent in its
application, avoids double accounting, and connects to
human well-being - not leaving that complex task to the next
recipient of the classification results. One of the most
challenging aspects of the ecosystem services literature, to
date, is that there is no standardization, and, therefore,
communication and consistency in the field have not been
achieved.
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DH Landers and AM Nahlik
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and European Union (UK Ecosystem Assessment 2012, 2011; UNEP 2009) that are seeking
approaches to the issue of defining and classifying ecosystem services. A common objective of
these efforts seems to be to provide defined and standardized approaches for identifying
ecosystem services so that communication and comparison across landscapes can be readily
achieved. Much of the progress on this topic can be found in the grey literature - probably
because definitive progress has been difficult to achieve and work is presently on-going (Staub
et al. 2011, Haines-Young and M. Potschin 2011, 2010; Carpenter et al. 2009; Ott et al. 2009;
The Heinz Center 2008; MEA 2005).
Without the standardization that an accepted definition of ecosystem services provides and the
consistency that a classification system offers, experts from different disciplines often fail to
communicate. Miscommunication results in a disconnect between the goods and services
measured by ecologists and those valued by the public. Therefore, these efforts often fail to be
useful in analyses of human well-being (Nahlik et al. 2012a, b). Such standardization is required
not only so ecosystem services can be similarly discussed - especially across disciplinary
boundaries - but also so they may be measured, quantified, and valued in a reliable and
repeatable manner, thus facilitating the use of meta-analysis to effectively compare different
studies. Ultimately, the consistency of a rigorous ecosystem services classification system is
imperative to inform policy development at multiple spatial scales and to incorporate
ecosystem services into decision-making.
A group of scientists at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Office of
Research and Development (ORD) has adopted the concept of Final Ecosystem Goods and
Services (PEGS) as a foundation for defining, classifying, and measuring ecosystem services.
PEGS, the "components of nature, directly enjoyed, consumed or used to yield human well-
being", are attributed to Boyd and Banzhaf (2007), who defined and initiated the theoretical
development of the concept of Ecological Endpoints (Boyd 2007), which later came to be
known as PEGS. The PEGS concept and definition has now been, and continues to be, adopted
and refined by others (Johnston and Russell 2011; Staub et al. 2011; Haines-Young and Potschin
2010; Ott and Staub 2009; Fisher et al. 2009, 2008).
Nahlik et al. 2012a captures much of the reasoning behind the selection of PEGS as a suitable
foundation for defining and classifying ecosystem services. There are four main reasons: 1)
PEGS avoids much of the ambiguity inherent in other ecosystem services definitions; 2) PEGS
minimizes or avoids double-counting (see 3.4.5. How PEGS Minimizes Double-Counting for
further details); 3) PEGS are a bridge between natural and social sciences that facilitates direct
communication and collaboration; and 4) PEGS are beneficiary-specific and may be understood
FEGS-CS Version 2.8a Page 3 DH Landers and AM Nahlik
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by people without translation or interpretation. US EPA scientists have been working in
collaboration with others, including social scientists from diverse organizations, in
transdisciplinary workshops and other settings since 2008 to translate the economic concept of
PEGS into ecological practicality and explore how the PEGS concept might be developed into an
operational classification system that combines both natural science environmental
components and social science connections to humans (Ringold et al. 2013, 2011, 2009; Nahlik
et al. 2012a, b). One result from these efforts was the identification of five general principles
that provide broad guidance for the use of the PEGS approach3. These five Conceptual PEGS
Principles include:
Conceptual PEGS Principles
1 Defining, measuring, quantifying, valuing, and/or accounting for PEGS requires a wholly collaborative effort
among natural scientists and social scientists.
2 Environmental processes and functions produce potential PEGS (i.e., stocks), while people, groups, or firms
(hereon referred to as "individuals") enjoy, use, or consume PEGS.
3 Defining, identifying, and classifying a complete, but non-duplicative, set of PEGS is the foundation that can
be used as a transdisciplinary approach to measure, quantify, map, model, and value ecosystem services.
4 Because individuals enjoy, use, or consume PEGS, an understanding of their beneficiary perspective is crucial
to identify PEGS and contribute to the framing of the research and implementation plan.
5 Until the environment is measured [by natural scientists] and beneficiaries can be identified and quantified
[by social scientists], the PEGS reported in these matrices are considered candidates.
Most of these principles are explicitly discussed in Nahlik et al. 2012a, which we recommend
FEGS-CS users to read. Furthermore, Ringold et al. (2013) give some concrete examples of how
PEGS could be used and define the steps taken to determine metrics and indictors for PEGS.
It is useful to think about PEGS in the context of how we have traditionally thought about what
the environment provides. Until recently, society has generally thought of the environment as
providing goods and services that, through a general production function, produce benefits or
value that ultimately affect human well-being (Figure la). This general "ecosystem to human
well-being" approach implies that there is an environmental-human continuum. However,
unless both environmental and economic (i.e., labor, and capital goods) inputs are well-
specified in the general production function, it is difficult (or impossible) to explicitly separate
the goods and services provided by (or predominantly by) the environment from the
investment humans make to realize the total economic value of those goods and services. For
example, agricultural commodities (e.g., corn, cotton, etc.) have both an important ecological
component and an important economic component that results in the overall production and
3 In this document, we will introduce two sets of principles (using numbered tables), one of which relates to the
PEGS concept and the other relates to identifying PEGS boundaries.
FEGS-CS Version 2.8a Page 4 DH Landers and AM Nahlik
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availability of these goods. Consider the
environmental and human inputs (i.e.,
labor and capital goods) into a cotton tee-
shirt: the environment provides
intermediate ecosystem goods and
services, such as climate and nutrient
cycling, to PEGS - open space and soil
[quality and quantity] to a farmer - which
in turn results in an opportunity to grow
cotton. However, humans must provide
economic activities and inputs (e.g.,
fertilizing and tilling the soil, planting
seeds, weeding, harvesting) to produce
the raw cotton and further economic
activities and inputs (e.g., processing,
transporting, manufacturing, packaging,
selling, etc.) to produce a tee-shirt being
sold in a store.
The PEGS concept can be used to
efficiently and systematically distinguish
the production function that is
predominantly ecological in nature from
the production function that is
predominately economic (Figure Ib);
FEGS, the ultimate (i.e., last) biophysical
entity in nature used by individuals to acquire a human benefit, are the link between the
ecological and economic production functions. The ability to define and identify FEGS and the
specific biophysical components of goods and services that are principally derived from nature
across the landscape (i.e., from different Environmental Classes) is an advancement in our
understanding of ecosystem services, and we explicitly identify FEGS provided by different
Environmental Classes in the Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System (FEGS-
CS). Because FEGS are principally derived from nature, using FEGS allows us to separate,
quantify, and value the ecological production function from the overall total economic value,
which includes an economic production function. As Figure Ic illustrates, there are myriad
intermediate ecosystem services (often processes and functions) represented in the ecological
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Text Box 2. How are PEGS identified?
"components of nature, directly
enjoyed, consdmed, or used to yield
Environment + Beneficiary —» PEGS
Three KevSteos:
1. Clearly define the Environmental Class
2. Identify the Beneficiary Categories
3. For a specific Beneficiary Category and
Environmental Class, hypothesize PEGS
received
production function that are vital to the production of PEGS. Many common benefits derived
by humans (measured as total economic value) are typically not attained until there is some
significant input of labor and capital goods (i.e.,
human capital). These benefits may not be
predominantly ecological in nature, as they are a
result of the addition of human capital. However,
since we can identify the beneficiaries for specific
PEGS (and the FEGS-CS explicitly defines these
beneficiaries) we can determine those specific
ecosystem attribute(s) associated with the specific
PEGS that the beneficiary values, and these can
directly lead to identifying appropriate metrics and
indicators for PEGS. The PEGS, therefore, represent
those goods and services that are largely
environmentally derived without major inputs of
labor or capital from humans.
This document represents the completed initial version of an ecosystem service classification
system. FEGS-CS provides a solid foundation for defining specific PEGS relating to two
independent components that are derived from the definition of Final Ecosystem Goods and
Services: 1) Environmental Class (addressing the question, "Where does the PEGS occur on the
earth?") and 2) Beneficiary Category (addressing the question, "Who is the beneficiary and
what are the PEGS?"). In other words, PEGS are explicitly defined by the landscape in which
they occur and the interests of people that interact (i.e., enjoy, consume, or use) with the PEGS
(Text Box 2). We need to know where the PEGS occur on the landscape so PEGS can be
measured and mapped, and we need to know who the beneficiaries of the PEGS are to identify
the PEGS and connect PEGS to human well-being. In other words, by defining the
Environmental Class and identifying the Beneficiary Categories, the PEGS for a specific place and
interest can be hypothesized (from a beneficiary perspective).
We use the word "hypothesized" because we view these PEGS and the beneficiaries, as
potential PEGS and potential beneficiaries. In collaboration with social scientists, economists,
and other natural scientists with expertise in a wide variety of ecosystems, we used our best
professional judgement to identify different interests - or beneficiaries (see Section 3.3.
Beneficiary Categories for details) - and hypothesize what the beneficiaries care about with
respect to environmental goods and services. Confirmatory research regarding beneficiary
identification, perspectives, and spatial location will be the subject of future transdisciplinary
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PEGS Classification Structure
Environment Beneficiary
XX.XXXX
Sub-Class Sub-Category
Environment Beneficiary
investigations. Until the beneficiaries we propose
in the FEGS-CS can be validated (i.e., until
potential beneficiaries are confirmed as actual
beneficiaries, and potential FEGS are confirmed as
actual PEGS), the beneficiaries and PEGS discussed
in this document must be regarded as
hypothetical.
The objective of this document is to introduce this
initial version of the FEGS-CS. The FEGS-CS is
represented as a collection of tables located in the
Appendices called the PEGS Matrices, which were
collectively designed to be a resource and tool for
practitioners to use in consistently defining,
identifying, quantifying, and valuing FEGS. Within
the FEGS Matrices, sets of FEGS4 pertaining to
specific beneficiaries and provided by particular
types of environments are explicitly identified as
hypotheses. The following text is intended to
accompany the FEGS Matrices and describe the
rationale and approach with which the FEGS-CS
was created. Our hope is that the following
overview will provide users with an adequate
knowledge base and serve as a guide for the
appropriate use of the FEGS-CS and associated
FEGS Matrices.
3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEGS-CS
The concept of ecosystem services is compelling
because it is the key to understanding the flow of
benefits to humans from the landscape. While
The same beneficiary often utilizes multiple FEGS from the same environment; therefore, a particular beneficiary
may be associated with a combination, or set, of FEGS. See Section 3.4. Final Ecosystem Goods and Services (FEGS)
for a more in-depth discussion.
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DH Landers and AM Nahlik
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many studies and reports provide information pertaining to the flow of benefits from the
landscape, the information is defined in different ways and not consistently organized or
classified. Many groups have attempted to measure and quantify the ecosystem services
provided within a defined spatial unit on the Earth's surface so, ultimately, tradeoffs can be
weighed and better decisions can be made. Yet, definitive progress in consistently defining,
measuring, quantifying, and mapping ecosystem services on the landscape has not been made
- perhaps, largely because the need for a systematic and rigorous approach has not been met.
To measure, quantify, and map ecosystem services, it is important to accurately and precisely
define those services present in such a way that the approach is repeatable in similar locations
(i.e., the same types of environments) but can be easily adapted to different locations (i.e.,
different combinations of environments across the landscape). Secondly, to value ecosystem
services (and perform cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses), inform policy and
management decisions that are relevant to human well-being, and effectively communicate, it
is imperative to identify ecosystem services that are directly connected to what people value.
Therefore, determining the connection of ecosystem goods and services to value is equally
important as identifying their substantiation with nature. The FEGS-CS and associated PEGS
Matrices described in this document defines and classifies ecosystem services and is a critical
foundation for measuring, quantifying, mapping, modeling, and valuing ecosystem services,
among other ecosystem service-centric activities that are dependent on a defined and rigorous
framework.
Development of the FEGS-CS is the first of many steps to provide information and structure for
measuring, quantifying, mapping, modeling, and valuing ecosystem services across the
landscape. Below, we explain each of the major components of the system (i.e., Environmental
Classes and Sub-Classes, Beneficiary Classes and Sub-Classes, and PEGS), starting with the
organization of the classification system.
3.1. ORGANIZATION OF THE FEGS-CS
The FEGS-CS is an orthogonal classification system used to describe and account for each set of
FEGS supplied by a specific environment and pertaining to a specific beneficiary, the general
structure of which is provided in Figure 2. The structure is represented by the amalgamation of
two independent hierarchies - one associated with the environment and the other with the
beneficiary - with each hierarchical level providing an aggregation of detail at the lower level.
We currently provide two levels for each hierarchy (i.e., Environmental Classes and Sub-Classes,
and Beneficiary Categories and Sub-Categories), with a decimal point separating the two-digit
environment portion of the classification from the four-digit beneficiary portion of the
FEGS-CS Version 2.8a Page 8 DH Landers and AM Nahlik
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classification (Figure 3). The Environmental [Sub-]Class5 is represented on the left side of the
decimal and the Beneficiary [Sub-]Category on the right. In this way, each beneficiary and
associated set of PEGS is defined by a unique six-digit number. For example, in Figure 3, the
"Terrestrial" Environmental Class is represented by "2", and the "Forests" Sub-Class is
represented by "1". If the FEGS for a Recreational (Beneficiary Category 06) Hunter (Beneficiary
Sub-Category 04) in this environment were classified, they would be represented by the
number 21.0604. At present, there are a total of 338 unique sets of FEGS defined in the FEGS-
CS, but there is the potential to identify many more.
We modeled the FEGS-CS organization after the North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS; see Section 5. Connection between FEGS and Industrial Classification Systems for further
discussion) for several reasons: 1) one of the long-term goals is to connect FEGS-CS and NAICS,
so it is sensible to use an approach similar to the NAICS structure; 2) a significant amount of
consideration and research went into the design of the NAICS structure
(see http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/history/docs/issue paper 2.pdf for details); 3)
the philosophy behind the NAICS structure matches ours. Specifically, the NAICS system has a
flexible aggregation structure, which provides detailed data while allowing the user to
aggregate the system in any way at any time. By incorporating the same flexibility into the
FEGS-CS structure, we expect this (or future variants of this) classification system to be useful
for multiple and varied objectives over time.
3.1.1. DETERMINING THE GRAIN OF THE FEGS-CS
No classification is perfect because they are human constructs and are likely to be designed and
used in different ways by different practitioners. In the case of FEGS-CS, the human constructs
necessitate drawing distinctions and connections between both highly-interdependent natural
systems and human perceptions, where no obvious guidelines or separations exist. Because
one of our primary goals was to develop an ecosystem services classification that is both
relatively complete and minimally duplicative, one particular concern was making decisions
concerning the grain, or the homogeneous units of division, of the classification system -
particularly where we draw the boundaries for determining unique Environmental [Sub-
]Classes. The primary rule of thumb we adopted was that we would not lump or split if the
particular Environmental [Sub-]Class seemed to capture a unique and/or well-defined
Beneficiary [Sub-]Category. For example, estuaries and near coastal marine environments were
5 The denotation "[Sub-]" in front of "Class" and "Category" is used to refer to the full class/category and/or the
sub-class/category, depending on how the user of FEGS-CS chooses to think about the classification for their
individual needs.
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originally considered separate Environmental Sub-Classes, but after consideration, we
hypothesized that the beneficiaries were generally the same; thus, these Environmental Sub-
Classes were lumped into one. On the other hand, we originally considered near coastal marine
and open ocean environment within a single Environmental Sub-Class, but we hypothesized
that the beneficiaries were largely different for near coastal systems (e.g., near coastal
beneficiaries do not necessarily need a boat or they can rely on small boats to access the
environment) than open oceans (e.g., open ocean beneficiaries typically use large boats to
access the environment); this Environmental Sub-Class was split into two. Lumping and
splitting often required an iteration of the issue by thinking of both the Environmental Sub-
Classes and the Beneficiary Sub-Categories simultaneously.
Our overarching goal when developing the [Sub-]Categories was to identify - to the best of our
abilities - a complete set of beneficiaries that are discrete when organized by Environmental
[Sub-]Classes. As such, we strived to match the Beneficiary [Sub-]Categories to the same
"scale" as Environmental [Sub-]Classes. For example, we received a comment that we had left
out an important beneficiary - maple syrup collectors. After consideration, we determined that
maple syrup collectors would be included under Food Extractors in Forests (21.0201). Because
the Environmental Sub-Class (i.e., "Forests") is not further split into say, "Deciduous Forests" or
"Maple-Dominated Forests" it was not appropriate to use a greater level of specificity in
identifying the beneficiary.
In the end, we are confident that Environmental [Sub-]Classes and Beneficiary [Sub-]Categories
(and, thus, FEGS) have been developed at an intermediate grain that presents a comprehensive,
but manageable, organization of environments, beneficiaries, and FEGS. Nevertheless, during
our refinement process and internal reviews, we have received recurring comments pertaining
to the scale and extent of FEGS-CS - directed toward both the Environmental Classification and
the Beneficiary Categorization. For example, some natural scientists and social
scientists/economists believed FEGS-CS included too many Environmental Sub-Classes, while
others commented that FEGS-CS did not include enough. FEGS-CS has also been criticized for
having too many Beneficiary Sub-Categories, regardless of our attempts to capture only unique
beneficiaries. On the other hand, we have not received comments to date that major
Beneficiary Categories or Sub-Categories have been omitted, although this is surely possible.
The fact that we received both comments that the general organization should be aggregated
and disaggregated suggested to us that we indeed presented an intermediate grain.
Although we did not develop FEGS-CS beyond the "Sub-" degree (i.e., second level) of
hierarchy, an additional degree (i.e., third level) of hierarchy, "Infra-", could be developed if
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users of the FEGS-CS determine that it is necessary. Such an enhancement could be officially
codified as part of a future version of FEGS-CS if the need seems justified. In other words, by
designing flexibility in the FEGS-CS structure, the Environmental [Sub-]Classes and Beneficiary
[Sub-]Categories can easily be expanded into Environmental Infra-Classes and Beneficiary Infra-
Categories (i.e., by adding a level to the hierarchy) or aggregated (i.e., into Environmental
Classes and Beneficiary Categories) depending on the intended use of this classification system
and specific objectives of the user.
Generally, one should use Environmental Classes (i.e., combine Sub-Classes) if the beneficiaries
and associated FEGS do not differ greatly among Sub-Classes. On the other hand, if the
Environmental Sub-Classes are comprised of largely different beneficiaries, they can be split
into specific environments (Infra-Classes). For example, "12. Wetlands" could be split into
"1201. Riparian Wetlands", "1202. Bogs", "1203. Fens", "1204. Prairie Potholes", etc. In some
cases, a user may only want to focus on Beneficiary Categories, while others may prefer to add
a level of hierarchy, (Infra-Categories; e.g., split ".0604 Anglers" into ".060401 Catch and
Release Anglers" and ".060402 Catch and Consume Anglers").
In the following sections, we continue to explain the major components of the FEGS Matrices:
Environmental Classes and Sub-Classes, Beneficiary Classes and Sub-Classes, and FEGS.
3.2. ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSES AND SUB-CLASSES
In classifying the Earth's surface into spatial units for the FEGS-CS, we had two overriding
objectives: 1) to develop a system generally compatible with those geographic/landscape
classification systems already in use, and 2) to define spatial units that are generally mappable
from satellite data. These objectives are particularly important to facilitate practical use of
FEGS-CS using existing CIS and satellite information. We based our units on the Anderson Land
Use and Land Cover Classification System (Anderson et al. 1976) and termed them
Environmental Classes and Sub-Classes. We carefully chose this terminology (i.e.,
"environmental") because several unit types are included that are arguably not ecosystems
under many perspectives (see the last paragraph of this section for further discussion).
The Environmental Classification table in Text Box 3 introduces three Environmental Classes
(underlined in light blue type) and fifteen Environmental Sub-Classes (in dark blue type), which
can be easily derived from the US Geological Survey's (USGS) National Land Cover Dataset, with
two exceptions we discuss below (NLCD; Homer et al. 2004). Further details including examples
of specific types of environments for each Environmental Sub-Class can be found in the
Environmental Classification table in the Appendix. For example, Environmental Sub-Class "12.
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Wetlands" may include isolated depressions, riparian
wetlands, bogs, fens, swamps, and prairie potholes,
among other wetland types. The reader should note
that the examples provided in the Appendix are
neither comprehensive nor exclusive, and there may
be many similar but identifiable environments
encompassed by each Environmental Sub-Class.
Although the classification of the Earth's
environments devised for FEGS-CS is slightly different
from the many landscape classifications that already
exist, it is highly-compatible with other classification
systems in that existing landscape classes can
generally be aggregated or disaggregated to attain
FEGS-CS Environmental [Sub-]Classes.
Text Box 3. Environmental Classes and Sub-
Classes used in the FEGS-CS.
1. AQUAT C
11. Rivers and Streams
12. Wetlands
13. Lakes and Ponds
14. Estuaries and Near Coastal and Marine
15. Open Oceans and Seas
16. Groundwater
2. TERRESTRIAL
21. Forests
22. Agroecosystems
23. Created Greenspace
24. Grasslands
25. Scrubland / Shrubland
26. Barren / Rock and Sand
27. Tundra
28. Ice and Snow
3. ATMOSPHERIC
31. Atmosphere
Upon consulting natural scientists in several fields of
expertise and CIS specialists, we determined that it
was necessary to include several Environmental Sub-
Classes that are not traditionally considered - namely groundwater, atmosphere, and created
greenspace. In each case, the new Environmental Sub-Class (or Class, in the case of
Atmosphere) provides PEGS that are not captured in any other Environmental [Sub-]Class and
provides PEGS to unique and important beneficiaries. For example, everyone (i.e., all humans)
benefits from the PEGS "air" and there is no doubt that the environment (i.e., the atmosphere)
is ultimately responsible for providing air for breathing, among numerous other PEGS (see
Section 3.4.2. PEGS Provided by the Atmosphere for a full explanation). We also added the
Environmental Sub-Class of "Groundwater" to the "Aquatic" Environmental Class, as
groundwater provides vital PEGS to beneficiaries that rely on wells for water. Although neither
groundwater nor atmosphere is explicitly mapped using satellite platforms, maps of these
environments derived from alternate methods and sources are available to characterize them
at broad spatial scales. Finally, created greenspaces are included as an Environmental Sub-Class
because they are often highly regarded and utilized by urban dwellers, leading to increased
human well-being. There are potentially many different beneficiaries and PEGS for the created
greenspace, especially from a recreational perspective.
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3.3. BENEFICIARY CATEGORIES AND SUB-CATEGORIES
Beneficiaries are "the interests of an individual (i.e., person, organization, household, or firm)
that drive active or passive consumption and/or appreciation of ecosystem services resulting in
an impact (positive or negative) on their welfare" (adapted from Nahlik et al. 2012a). As such, a
person or organization may be
comprised of multiple
beneficiaries. For example, an
individual (represented in Figure
4) may enjoy the scenic views
from their property, the
existence of National Parks, and
fly fishing in their free time. As a
farmer, the individual may rely on
their land (space and soil) for
producing crops and use water
from a nearby stream to irrigate
during the summer. As a
property owner, there may also
be benefits from reduced
flooding due to a wetland
between the stream and
dwelling. Therefore, this
individual, like most all of us,
represents multiple beneficiaries.
Like people, organizations, households, and firms may also be comprised of multiple
beneficiaries.
When developing the Beneficiary Categories and Sub-Categories, we strived to identify a list of
Beneficiary Sub-Categories based upon those specific goods and services with which they
interact that are supplied by a particular Environmental Sub-Class. After identifying a new
Beneficiary Sub-Category, we would determine whether this combination of Beneficiary Sub-
Categories for a specified Environmental Sub-Class was something that was generally not
duplicated in any other FEGS (i.e., intersection between the Beneficiary Sub-Category and
Environmental Sub-Class). For example, an agricultural irrigator (Beneficiary Sub-Category)
could derive needed water from lakes, wetlands, streams, and groundwater, or any
combination thereof. However, each combination would represent a different FEGS because,
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in this case, the Beneficiary Sub-Category is the same but the Environmental Sub-Class differs,
resulting in four possible different PEGS.
Specific beneficiaries for specific PEGS were first identified as the result of an interdisciplinary
workshop held by the US EPA in 2009 to discuss the notion of PEGS as they relate to stream
ecosystems (Ringold et al. 2009). One of the major accomplishments was a list of defined
beneficiaries of streams developed as a result of open discussion and collaboration among the
natural and social scientists that participated in the workshop. While developing the FEGS-CS,
we used the same intellectual approach developed in this workshop to refine and expand the
Beneficiary [Sub-]Categories to include the additional Environmental Sub-Classes; our
refinement process has included many natural and social scientists in a transdisciplinary effort.
There are currently 10 Beneficiary Categories and 38 Beneficiary Sub-Categories in the FEGS-CS,
although these numbers may change as we further develop and use the FEGS-CS. We expect
that over time, the hypotheses regarding beneficiaries shall be tested and additional
beneficiaries may be included. The Beneficiary Sub-Categories are provided in the Beneficiary
Categorization Appendix, while definitions of each beneficiary6 are listed as a column in the
FEGS Matrices.
It is important to understand that FEGS that correspond to multiple beneficiaries do not
necessarily indicate greater importance of that FEGS (or well-being). For example, in the
Environmental Sub-Class "24. Grasslands", the FEGS "presence of the environment" is
associated with 11 different Beneficiary Sub-Categories, but "flora" is associated with 6
Beneficiary Sub-Categories. This does not mean that for grasslands, presence of the
environment is more important than flora. Likewise, an Environmental [Sub-]Class that has a
large number of associated Beneficiary [Sub-]Categories does not necessarily indicate a greater
importance of that environment. For example, in the Summary Matrix (in the Appendices),
Environmental Sub-Class "11. Rivers and Streams" is associated with 34 different Beneficiary
Sub-Categories, whereas "13. Created Greenspace" is associated with 13 different Beneficiary
Sub-Categories. It is inappropriate to conclude that rivers and streams are more important
than created greenspace. Determining the importance of FEGS or different environments is a
weighting and valuation issue that will require research beyond what is presented here (see
Section 6. Using the FEGS-CS for details), although we believe the FEGS-CS provides an
important foundation for this future research.
6 The definition corresponding to a particular beneficiary in the FEGS Matrices is very general. In other words, the
same beneficiary definition is repeated in each FEGS Matrix despite the Environmental Sub-Class.
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Text Box 4. Guiding questions for determining
PEGS, including examples of questions (Q) and
answers (A).
For a specific Environmental Sub-Class,
which Beneficiary Sub-Categories are
present?
o Q: Do Recreational Food Pickers and
Gatherers utilize Estuaries and Near
Shore Marine environments? A: Yes.
For a specific Beneficiary Sub-Category
interested in a specific Environmental
Sub-Class, what are the FEGS? Or, what
does the beneficiary utilize or care about
(to receive a benefit) that is directly
provided by the environment?
o Q: What do Recreational Food
Pickers and Gatherers utilize from
Estuaries and Near Shore Marine
environments that result in a
benefit? A: Flora and fauna, such as
seaweed, kelp, mussels, crabs, etc.
• What is the importance of this [set of]
FEGS to the beneficiary?
o Q: Why do Recreational Food Pickers
and Gatherers in Estuaries and Near
Shore Marine environments care
about flora and fauna? A: These are
edible organisms that can be picked
or gathered for personal use.
3.4. FINAL ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES
(PEGS)
The fundamental goal in developing the FEGS-CS
was to organize ecosystem services in a consistent
and meaningful manner, and in doing so, we
identified and defined PEGS that pertain explicitly
to both the landscape and specific beneficiaries.
PEGS are innately associated with the
environment in which they occur and to the
beneficiary that utilizes them. After developing
the Environmental Classification and Beneficiary
Categorization (described in previous sections),
we used a series of guiding questions to
hypothesize how beneficiaries use, interact with,
or perceive benefits derived from nature. These
guiding questions, outlined in Text Box 4,
specifically allowed us to identify the PEGS and
define the PEGS by describing their importance to
the Beneficiary Sub-Category.
In the PEGS Matrices, PEGS appear as the
intersection of environment and beneficiaries in
the fourth column labeled "PEGS" in any of the
matrices (i.e., tables) specific to Environmental
Sub-Classes. The "PEGS" column specifically lists
categories of PEGS (versus describing every PEGS,
each of which is unique because actual PEGS must be associated with an Environmental Sub-
Class and Beneficiary Sub-Category) to allow for future querying (see "Questions and
Comments" in the Index (p./V) for details) and comparisons across Environmental Sub-Classes or
Beneficiary Sub-Categories. Currently, there are 21 categories of PEGS identified in FEGS-CS
(Text Box 5). While these categories represent the types of PEGS that the environment supplies
to beneficiaries, the PEGS themselves are tied to a Beneficiary Sub-Category and a
Environmental Sub-Class. So, while "water" may be a category of PEGS, the actual PEGS may be
"water (for growing and maintaining crops) supplied to an Agricultural Irrigator by Rivers and
Streams (11.0101)". Because each PEGS is tied to a Beneficiary Sub-Category and an
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Environmental Sub-Class, each of the identified PEGS is
distinct. Therefore, measuring, quantifying, mapping,
modeling, and valuing each PEGS will be different.
Categories of PEGS (i.e., those listed in Text Box 5) are
not PEGS. Categories of PEGS are heuristic, much like
many of the other existing ecosystem service
classification systems, such as MEA (2005) because they
are general. The PEGS is identified only when a category
of PEGS is connected to a specific beneficiary and an
environment. This step is hugely important; in order for
ecologists to measure PEGS, they have to know what to
measure; and what to measure depends on the
beneficiary and what they directly utilize, consume, or
enjoy from the environment. For example, in the PEGS
Matrices table for Rivers and Streams, water appears as
a PEGS for Irrigators (11.0101) and for Industrial
Processors (11.0203) Although "water" is the identified
category of PEGS for both beneficiaries, water utilized
(or valued) by an Irrigator is not the same water utilized
(or valued) by an Industrial Processor. Even though the
Irrigator and the Industrial Processor may using the same water source (say, water from the
same stream), the metrics and indicators, that capture the PEGS may be different between the
two beneficiaries (as described in the workshop reports Ringold et al. 2011, 2009). Specifically,
an Irrigator may care about water available during the growing season that has a low enough
concentration of salinity, chemicals, and pathogens that crops that are being irrigated or
consumers thereof are not harmed. On the other hand, an Industrial Processor (that primarily
uses water for cooling or producing non-edible products) may care specifically only about the
quantity and temperature of available water and the presence of organisms in the water that
could cause biofouling. In other words, the biophysical unit(s) of measurement for each PEGS
could be different, even if the type of PEGS is the same. In some cases, like that of an Irrigator
(11.0101), the biophysical units (i.e., something about the quantity, quality and timing of the
water availability) are rather straightforward for natural scientists to measure. Additionally,
irrigating communities can offer some concrete guidance on what it is about the water they
value or the body of literature pertaining to USDA salinity research could be consulted. But for
non-consumptive PEGS, such as "presence of the environment", "viewscapes", and "sounds and
Text Box 5. Twenty-one categories used
to organize PEGS in the FEGS-CS.
01 water
02 flora
03 presence of the environment
04 fauna
05 fiber
06 natural materials
07 open space
08 viewscapes
09 sounds and scents
10 fish
11 soil
12 pollinators
13 depredators and (pest) predators
14 timber
15 fungi
16 substrate
17 land
18 air
19 weather
20 wind
21 atmospheric phenomena
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scents", natural scientists generally do not have much professional training or experience with
the possible measurements that could be associated with these inspirational, spiritual, and
ceremonial connections, for example, to the natural world. Collaboration among social
scientists that have capabilities in these areas and natural scientists are imperative to
successfully translate the PEGS from the brief descriptions included in FEGS-CS to actual metrics
and indicators that connect to human well-being. We expect that this will be an active area of
future research.
Often, more than one PEGS associated with a single beneficiary exists in the PEGS Matrices, as
several different PEGS may be provided to the same beneficiary within an Environmental Sub-
Class. Therefore, we often refer to the combination of multiple PEGS associated with a
beneficiary as "sets of PEGS". For example, grassland may provide both flora and open space (a
set of PEGS) to a Livestock Grazer (24.01013). In most cases, the multiple PEGS that comprise a
set of PEGS for a beneficiary are not obligated to be provided as a group (i.e., a single PEGS in
the set of PEGS may be provided); however, in some cases, such as when "presence of the
environment" is combined with other PEGS, if the environment does not exist, other PEGS will
simply not be provided. We have not presumed to list all PEGS important to beneficiaries, but
we have attempted to identify some of the key sets of PEGS for each particular intersection of
Environmental Sub-Class and Beneficiary Sub-Category. Over time, and with application of this
classification, we expect the examples of PEGS will become more complete and our proposed
PEGS identified in the FEGS-CS will be confirmed or rejected by scientists working to define and
understand the beneficiaries.
3.4.1. PEGS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PARTITIONING
Inherent to the PEGS definition, PEGS are associated with the Environmental [Sub-]Class in
which they are consumed, used or obtained, even if the PEGS derived from one Environmental
[Sub-]Class is dependent on another Environmental [Sub-]Class. For example, shrimp (the
PEGS) in both near shore and open ocean environments of the Gulf of Mexico are dependent on
the ability of coastal wetlands to provide habitat (an intermediate service in the FEGS-CS
construct) to juvenile shrimp (Engle 2011). While the coastal wetlands are essential to the
existence of shrimp in the near shore and open oceans, commercial fishermen typically
actualize the PEGS (i.e., catch the shrimp) in the ocean (as opposed to in the coastal wetland).
Therefore, the PEGS is associated with the near shore and open oceans. From an ecological
perspective, this "environmental partitioning" can be risky in the sense that the multitude of
interactions among environments is not explicitly accounted for in FEGS-CS. On the other hand,
we have yet to find another method to consistently identify, measure, and quantify ecosystem
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services across the Earth. We expect that ecological production functions used by modelers to
make future projections of PEGS under different possible managment parameters will capture
and utilize our understanding of such dependence of a PEGS from one Environmental Sub-Class
on another Environmental Sub-Class.
One particular PEGS can be particularly difficult to pinpoint to an Environmental [Sub-]Class - a
viewscape. If a hiker is standing on a rocky mountaintop overlooking a vista that includes
forests, agriculture, rivers, and towns, what Environmental Sub-Class is providing the PEGS (i.e.,
viewscape)? In this case, even though the hiker is in the "26. Barren / Rock and Sand"
Environmental Sub-Class, the viewscapes are being provided by each of the environments that
make up the vista; therefore, the viewscape is provided by the conglomeration of "21. Forests",
"22. Agroecosystems", "11. Rivers and Streams", and (perhaps, if large greenspaces in the town
are visible), "23. Created Greenspace".
3.4.2. PEGS PROVIDED BY THE ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere is different from all other Environmental [Sub-]Classes in that it overlays,
interacts with, and permeates all other Environmental [Sub-]Classes. Because beneficiaries
must interact with the atmosphere while also interacting with other Environmental
[Sub-]Classes (e.g., forests, grasslands, rivers, etc.) the atmosphere can influence the benefit
[received or experienced by the beneficiary] to varying degrees. For example, consider a
viewer's vista of a montane forest that is impaired by a variety of atmospheric conditions (e.g.,
smog, fog, precipitation, suspended particles, etc.). The forest is still providing the FEGS of
"viewscape" but the visual benefit to the beneficiary has been diminished. Therefore, we
recognize that the FEGS "air" can represent any of three components of the air that are of
primary interest to beneficiaries - clean air (visibility), healthful (breathable) air, and air (as a
medium). Although these differences are currently not obvious in FEGS-CS, the differences will
become clear when metrics and indicators are developed (see Section 6.1. Measuring FEGS for
more details).
3.4.3. ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORSAND PRESSURES AND THE PROVISION OF FEGS
Environmental pressures and stressors, both human and natural, critically affect the ability of
an Environmental [Sub-]Class to provide FEGS. Therefore, we recognize intensive human
activities on the landscape (e.g., farming, mining, urban development, etc.) as major
"pressures" and effects from human activities or natural phenomena (e.g., global climate
change, sea level rise, pests, diseases, predators, etc.) as "stressors" to Environmental
[Sub-]Classes and their ability to provide FEGS or directly to FEGS themselves. Although
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pressures and stressors are not explicitly identified in the FEGS-CS, they are included as part of
the ecological production functions that ultimately lead to PEGS. The following example
illustrates how pressures and stressors can be accounted for within the FEGS-CS construct.
Consider an oyster farmer who has a diminishing crop yield in a particular estuary because of
stressors, such as predators or parasites. In the FEGS-CS, the oyster farmer is classified under
"14.0105 Aquaculturists" (in the Environmental Sub-Class "14. Estuaries and Near Shore
Marine"), and the FEGS is "presence of the environment" because of the opportunity provided
by the environment for cultivating aquatic organisms7. Among other metrics and indicators for
this FEGS, one might measure the "abundance of competitors, predators and parasites, and
biofouling organisms" in the environment. A large presence of these harmful organisms, (e.g.,
burrowing shrimp, starfish, oyster drills) in the estuary may negatively affect the estuary's
ability to provide a "presence of the environment" at a quality that is suitable for oyster
farming and, therefore, diminish the value of the estuary to the oyster farmer. If we can
develop accurate metrics and indicators, then we should be able to measure and account for
the negative effects that pressures and stressors have on the provision of the FEGS.
3.4.4. FEGS VERSUS BENEFITS
Ecosystem services and benefits are often used synonymously; however, there is a clear
distinction between FEGS and benefits (Boyd and Banzhaf 2007). Given that FEGS are the final
(i.e., end) product produced by the environment with which the beneficiary interacts, the
benefit of FEGS cannot be realized without some varying amount of input of labor and capital
goods (i.e., conventional goods and services); however, the input of labor and capital goods
necessary to realize a human benefit can vary, as illustrated in Figure 5. In some cases, the
necessary input of labor and capital goods is relatively moderate (Figure 5a). For example, an
irrigator that receives the benefit of provision of water to crops must transport water (the
FEGS) from a nearby river to the crops using, perhaps, pumps and infrastructure (e.g., irrigation
system, hoses, etc) to realize the benefit. In this case, the irrigator did not have to add
significant capital to the FEGS; the FEGS needed only to be transported. On the other hand, a
conventional farmer who benefits from crop production may augment the soil (soil is one of the
FEGS) in an agroecosystem by tilling, fertilizing, seeding, weeding, applying pesticides, irrigating
(which brings in another FEGS and beneficiary), and harvesting. A relatively large input of labor
and capital goods is necessary to receive the benefit from the FEGS (Figure 5b). However, some
7 Note that the oysters are not FEGS because, unless they are wild, they are subsidized by the oyster farmer (i.e.,
they are cultivated and then introduced into the system) - the same logic for not considering corn a FEGS to a
farmer. See Section 4.1. Human-Dominated Goods and Services for an explanation.
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benefits can be realized with
relatively minimal inputs of human
capital (Figure 5c), such as
recreational hikers, who need only to
transport themselves to the site and
expend (human) energy to realize the
benefits of pleasing views, exercise,
or sense of happiness. Non-use
beneficiaries need only some
education (i.e., they have to know
that a place or environment exists) to
benefit from the PEGS.
3.4.5. How PEGS MINIMIZES DOUBLE-
COUNTING
Now that the reader has a general
understanding of PEGS and how they
relate to the landscape and
beneficiaries, it is useful to explain
how using PEGS, such as in the FEGS-
CS, minimizes double-counting when
compared to other approaches.
When using the MEA classification
approach and other classifications
that do not specify "final" ecosystem goods and services, final ecosystem services are
intermingled with intermediate services. This often results in double-counting, as an
"intermediate ecosystem service" may well be an important and unaccounted for component
of another ecosystem service. Consider a forest; as the trees in the forest photosynthesize,
they grow and produce wood. Under the MEA approach, primary production is classified as a
Supporting ecosystem service, while wood is classified as a Provisioning ecosystem service.
Therefore, under the MEA, in this example, the same tree produces two distinct services -
primary production and wood provision - even though the wood is wholly dependent on
primary production. Moreover, there is no feasible way to distinguish the primary production
"process" contribution from that of the provisioning of wood. This is clear example of double-
counting. Using the PEGS approach, primary production is not explicitly accounted for and
wood in the forest is identified as the PEGS for which there may be multiple beneficiaries, such
a; Benefits with moderate inputs of labor and capital goods
b) Benefits with large inputs of labor and capital goods
c) Benefits with minimal inputs of labor and capital goods
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as Timber Extractors (i.e., wood for construction), Timber Subsisters (i.e., wood for fuel), among
others. By linking the PEGS to the beneficiary, each PEGS is distinct, mutually exclusive, and
connected to human well-being, and thus, can be appropriately quantified and valued.
We do not include primary production as a PEGS because beneficiaries do not typically
recognize primary production or the process of photosynthesis as an attribute of the forest
ecosystem with which they directly interact. In this case, primary production is an intermediate
service that contributes to the existence of many PEGS identified in the FEGS-CS. As a result of
primary production of a forest, someone who cuts a tree down for building material (i.e.,
Timber Extractor (21.0203)) interacts with wood, and a recreational hiker (i.e., Experiencers and
Viewers (21.0601)) may interact with the forest as a whole during their hiking experience.
Wood and the presence of the ecosystem are considered two distinct PEGS, both of which can
be measured on the landscape and quantified using different and specific metrics.
Clearly, there are trade-offs among PEGS, as the Timber Extractor and the Experiencer and
Viewer likely could not both fully utilize PEGS in the same forest at the same time. For example,
if both PEGS were even moderately available at the same time in the same forest, one would
assume that the quantity and/or quality of the PEGS provided are diminished due to the
presence of the other. Understanding these tradeoffs by identifying what people care about
and measuring what the environment provides, allows for informed, reasoned, reproducible,
systematic, and perhaps the possibility of sustainable management decisions.
4. DISTINGUISHING PEGS FROM NON-FEGS
Striving to develop the FEGS-CS in a systematic way, we found ourselves creating fundamental
rules, or principles, which helped us to maintain consistency and clear boundaries when
identifying PEGS. These principles have been integral and essential for the development of the
FEGS-CS, as we encountered many conceptual challenges throughout the development process.
As challenges and questions arose, PEGS Boundary Principles were identified, recorded,
analyzed, and refined. Ultimately, we developed a set of PEGS Boundary Principles that provide
consistency and rationale for distinguishing PEGS from Non-FEGS in a succinct manner. These
boundary principles are important because they document the stringency with which FEGS-CS
was developed, but also because these boundaries provide clear answers to "Why was x
included in FEGS-CS but not y?"-type questions. We recommend that a first-time user of the
FEGS-CS closely examine and become well-versed with these principles so that they may be
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employed as references as more time is devoted to understanding and using the FEGS-CS.
There are seven PEGS Boundary Principles:
PEGS Boundary Principles
1 Intermediate goods and services (e.g., photosynthesis, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, etc.) are generally
ecosystem structural components, functions, and processes that are not directly used or appreciated by
individuals and, thus, are not PEGS. Moreover, most humans do not recognize or understand the importance
of these entities. However, intermediate goods and services are vitally important and need to be understood
in order to construct process models that can project PEGS into the future under different management
scenarios, eventually informing trade-off analyses.
2 PEGS are components of the natural, not the built, environment; therefore, a PEGS must be connected to the
lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. For example, a tree in a city planter is not a PEGS because it is
isolated from the earth (the lithosphere). Likewise, aquariums, [botanical] conservatories, and high-tech
athletic fields do not qualify as PEGS.
3 Policy endpoints do not create PEGS. Policies are generally created as a reflection of a) what individuals
value and b) processes or features that can be regulated - not necessarily those environmental components
with which humans interact (Ringold et al. 2009). Services associated with policy are taken into
consideration through specific beneficiaries (i.e., endangered bird species protection is taken into account via
bird watchers x presence of endangered bird species) or in connected environments.
4 Human-made infrastructure (e.g., roads, boardwalks), buildings (e.g., marinas, welcome centers), or goods
and services with a large input of labor and capital goods (e.g., agricultural row crops, stocked (i.e., put-and-
take) fish, lumber from tree plantations, orchard produce, Christmas trees) are not PEGS or considered in the
FEGS-CS. Many of these items are accounted for in industrial classification systems (i.e., NAICS or NAPCS).
PEGS are provided directly and predominantly by the ecosystem itself and are minimally dependent upon
human inputs of labor, energy, capital or other enhancements.
5 Incidental non-marketed environmental by-products of intensively produced goods and services (see
principle number 4, above) may be considered PEGS. These may include vistas of agricultural lands, game
associated with farmland or tree plantations (e.g., deer, pheasants), etc.
6 Increased value (i.e., property value) or sense of happiness is not a PEGS as it reflects human valuation and
not something the ecosystem provides itself (see principle number 4; Ringold et al. 2009).
7 The environment itself can be a PEGS (e.g. for a marina owner - a Resource Dependent Business (14.0206),
the presence of the estuary provides the PEGS).
One of the important issues for anyone trying to classify a broad range of attributes of a similar
group of entities is defining the boundaries of the group. Regardless of what is being classified,
there are always boundary issues that call for fairly arbitrary decisions unless there are clear
reasons for a particular designation. The same boundary issues occur when classifying
ecosystem services (Figure 6). In our effort to classify PEGS, one of the key boundary issues was
determining which ecosystems services are provided predominantly by the ecosystem, as
selecting those ecosystem services that are provided by nature is inherent in the definition of
PEGS. However, the fact that all of Earth's systems are impacted by humans - either directly or
indirectly - and are frequently heavily-managed by human beings, makes defining a clear
boundary between PEGS and non-ecosystem goods and services difficult.
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Most restrictive
FEGS-CS
FEGS
Final Ecosystem Goods and Services
Is [it] directly v
by a beneficiary?
e.g.,
rooftop
gardens,
planters
Is [it] directly
connected to both
the lithosphere and
hydrosphere?
e.g.,
plastic
plants,
astroturf
in the environment?
yes, with
moderate
yes, with no
to little
human input
s [it] an
incidental
by-product?
e.g., stocked
fish, some
ornamental
plants
Is [it] a renewable
natural resource in
,i human lifetime?
e.g.,
agricultural
vistas
e.g., corn
soybeans
wheat
e.g., gold,
oil, cool,
diamonds
e.g.,
native and
naturalized
fish
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To understand the PEGS Matrices associated with FEGS-CS and how the PEGS included were
determined, it is important to also understand these basic boundary decisions regarding what is
or is not considered to be a PEGS. While some may disagree with our boundaries, we make
these decisions explicit so that the FEGS-CS can be properly developed and used to its fullest
potential. To help us maintain consistency and clear boundaries among PEGS and non-
ecosystem goods and services, we subjected potential goods and services to a series of
decisions, presented as questions in a binary decision flowchart exemplified in Figure 7. To be
complete, we have distinguished decision points that we used for the development of FEGS-CS
(i.e., yellow boxes labeled "FEGS-CS FEGS"), and those that others may choose to use for their
own purposes (i.e., rainbow boxes labeled "Possibly FEGS"). We have used conservative
boundaries for defining FEGS used in FEGS-CS; however, these boundaries may be expanded, if
necessary, depending on the specific objectives of the user. If this direction is pursued, it would
be incumbent upon the specific author to specify, in some detail, the new boundaries that are
being used and the rationale for this specific departure.
The basic definition of FEGS requires that the good or service is a component of nature and
directly used, consumed, or enjoyed [by people]. As such, the first two criteria in our decision
flowchart (Figure 7) are that the potential good or service is 1) valued by a beneficiary and 2)
connected to at least the hydrosphere and lithosphere. Requiring potential goods and services
to be connected to the hydrosphere (i.e., be outdoors) and the lithosphere (i.e., be directly
connected to the soil or ground) provided a coarse boundary between ecosystem and non-
ecosystem goods and services. Beyond this, there are two additional criteria that we used to
determine the finer boundary between FEGS and non-ecosystem goods and services: 1)
whether the good or service is self-sustaining with minimal human capital (i.e., energy inputs,
obligatory infrastructure, etc.), and 2) whether the good or service is renewable under stable
(i.e., not increasing) human demand in a human lifetime (ca. 100 years). After careful
consideration, we also decided that incidental by-products of intensively managed
environments could be considered FEGS. In the following sections, we describe our rationale
and provide specific cases.
4.1. HUMAN-DOMINATED GOODS AND SERVICES
Given our perspectives regarding the importance of the influence of nature (i.e., with minimal
human inputs) on the production of goods and services, we believe agricultural crops -
including both food and fiber - that are produced with considerable inputs of human capital
and energy are not predominantly ecosystem entities. Cases in which food or fiber exist
without the tremendous input of derived energy sources and tending by humans, the food and
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fiber are classified to the subsistence and gathering arena. Using similar logic, stocked (i.e., put-
and-take) fish are not considered PEGS, as they spend the majority of their life in a hatchery and
are typically released into the ecosystem as adults. The stocked fish are largely a reflection of
human inputs (i.e., labor and capital goods). However, anadromous salmon smolts (juveniles)
introduced into an ecosystem that spend the dominant part of their relatively long-life (i.e., 3-8
years) in the ocean and rivers are considered PEGS. Because the environment - and not
humans - provides conditions and food (i.e., intermediate ecosystem goods and services)
during the majority of a salmon's lifetime, they are considered PEGS.
The principles concerning intensive human inputs apply only to PEGS - not to Environmental
Sub-Classes. Even though they are intensively managed, we recognize Agroecosystems and
Created Greenspaces as Environmental Sub-Classes; after all, they are connected to the
hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and [often] the lithosphere8. Consider a golf course; this
created greenspace is a human created entity, but it is supported by ecological and biophysical
processes. While the experience golfers receive is fully accounted for by the NAICS approach
(see Section 5. Connection between PEGS and Industrial Classification Systems), there are
beneficiaries of golf courses that appreciate the open space, an unintended benefit from these
landscapes. Grass clippings from mowing the golf course, however, would not be considered
PEGS as the grass is cultivated.
4.2. NON-RENEWABLE GOODS AND SERVICES
When presented with the question regarding whether minerals and fossil fuels could be PEGS,
we asked ourselves, "Is this produced by an ecosystem?" Yes, fossil fuels, such as coal and
petroleum, were produced by an ecosystem millions of years ago, but they also took millions of
years to develop into the goods we find useful today. Minerals (including rock, gems, etc.) are
produced by geologic processes that typically occurred eons ago. Some products, like sand,
gravel, and mud are not produced or supplied de novo by the environment - they are just
newly transported. For example, gravel or fine sediments moved downstream during flood
periods are mobilized from previous [ancient] deposits. Because we believe that a defining
characteristic of a PEGS produced by an ecosystem is that it is renewable, for the FEGS-CS (and
others may certainly have different purposes) minerals, coal and petroleum, and similar non-
renewable entities are not considered PEGS and not included in the FEGS-CS.
See Section 4.3. Incidental By-Products from Intensively Managed Environments for details on how PEGS are
determined in these particular Environmental Sub-Classes.
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In some cases, - namely from ancient (i.e.,
deep) aquifers - water is non-renewable in a
human lifetime. Although this ancient water is
used and highly valued in many locales,
because this water is not renewable, it is not
included in the FEGS-CS. The water provided
by Environmental Sub-Class "16.
Groundwater" and considered a PEGS is only
from shallow, renewable sources. There are
maps that detail the extent and locations of
both groundwater types (i.e., shallow and
ancient) and allow one to distinguish among
PEGS and non-environmental goods and
services. Likewise, some material, such as
peat, that takes hundreds to thousands of
years to accumulate to a beneficial quantity, is
also not considered a PEGS because of the
time requirements it takes to develop.
4.3. INCIDENTAL BY-PRODUCTS FROM
INTENSIVELY MANAGED ENVIRONMENTS
As we have already discussed, several of the
Environmental Sub-Classes we chose to
include in the FEGS-CS are traditionally
intensively-managed by humans, such as
Agroecosystems and Created Greenspaces. In these cases, cultivated material (i.e., crops,
grass, trees, etc.) are not FEGS because of the predominant human input invested in the good
or service (revisit Section 4.1. Human-Dominated Goods and Services for our rationale).
However, by-products that occur incidentally (i.e., goods and services that are not specifically
cultivated or managed) from these environments are considered FEGS in the FEGS-CS. For
example, agroecosystems, such as those pictured in Figure 8, are highly managed to produce
crops, but the agroecosystem may incidentally provide viewscapes (Figure 8a, b), fauna (Figure
8c), among other FEGS to beneficiaries other than farmers. Although the rationale is not as
clear for this particular principle as others, we felt that the many unique beneficiaries and the
significant portion of the Earth's landscape devoted to these intensively managed environments
warranted the recognition of some FEGS from these Environmental Sub-Classes. Moreover, for
Figure 8. Photographs depicting different incidental
by-products, such as viewscapes (a and b) or fauna
(c), from agroecosystems that are considered
potential FEGS. Information and Credits: a) Center
Pivot Irrigation along Columbia River near
Hermiston, OR (www.ars.usgs.gov), b) Rice Paddy in
Fort Bend County, TX (www.ars.usgs.gov), and c)
Snow geese Blasting Off from Corn Field
(www.birdsasart.com), used with explicit permission
from Arthur Morris.
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urban dwellers, created greenspace (i.e., parks, lawns, etc.) may provide the majority of PEGS
from which they benefit on a daily basis. Incidental by-products from intensively managed
environments certainly fall on the far right side of the FEGS-CS portion of the PEGS gradient
(Figure 6), and this boundary could change (i.e., by-products could be excluded) in future
revisions of FEGS-CS.
4.4. UNTANGLING INTERMEDIATE ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES FROM PEGS
We do not claim that distinguishing FEGS from non-ecosystem goods and services, or
furthermore, from intermediate ecosystem goods and services, is a simple or clear task.
Throughout the process of developing FEGS-CS, we refined our identified FEGS, boundaries, and
principles over and over again, and we expect to continue to do so to some extent. One rule of
thumb that is easy to forget, but critical to the FEGS approach, is that FEGS are "in addition to"
not "instead of" (per comm. Paul Ringold, US EPA). In other words, FEGS are one way -
although we believe it is the only way that currently exists - to systematically and consistently
define, communicate, and connect ecosystem services to human well-being. Using the FEGS
approach does not invalidate the importance of ecological processes and functions, or
intermediate ecosystem goods and services in general. FEGS would not exist without these
vital processes and functions. Likewise, the FEGS approach does not suggest that studying
ecosystem processes, functions, and interactions is unnecessary. In fact, understanding these
intermediate ecosystem services is vital to the practical use and application of the FEGS-CS.
Specifically, measuring, quantifying, or modeling FEGS reveals the importance of intermediate
ecosystem goods and services, as these processes, functions, and interactions often indicate or
are crucial for modeling FEGS. Nevertheless, the FEGS-CS is often criticized for not explicitly
including processes and functions9 - especially biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Below,
we discuss this issue further.
4.4.1. BIODIVERSITY
It is often asserted that biodiversity (defined as the "...full range of variety and variability within
and among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur..." US
Congressional Biodiversity Act, HR1268 (1990)), in and of itself, is an ecosystem service. We do
not dispute that biodiversity is tremendously important or an ecosystem service; however, we
do not believe it is a FEGS. Some recreational beneficiaries - for example, those interested in
bird watching - directly enjoy fauna (the FEGS), which is certainly influenced by and directly
9 For an explanation of why intermediate ecosystem goods and services are not included in FEGS-CS, revisit Section
3.4.5. How FEGS Minimizes Double-Counting.
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related to biodiversity (e.g., the number of bird species in a given area). But the bird watcher
does not generally or directly use, consume, or enjoy the broader biological context in which
the avian biodiversity is embedded; they interact with the birds by viewing them. Furthermore,
we hypothesize that the general public (i.e., other beneficiaries) does not directly use,
consume, or enjoy biodiversity - if anything, they use, consume, and enjoy the present species
of flora, fauna, and fungi, and the number of species present (i.e., biodiversity) may indicate the
extent to which the PEGS is provided. This is not to say biodiversity is not a vital structural
component of ecosystems and something in which environmental agencies, organizations, and
societies should be interested. The point is that biodiversity is not a PEGS because humans do
not directly interact with biodiversity. As natural scientists, we recognize that biodiversity is a
prominent, vital, and pervasive intermediate ecosystem service contributing to all goods and
services derived from nature; therefore, we expect biodiversity to be regularly included in
ecological production functions (i.e., models), and perhaps used as an important indicator of
some PEGS.
4.4.2. CARBON SEQUESTRATION
Carbon sequestration is another process that is often asserted as an ecosystem service. Like
biodiversity, we do not disagree that it is an ecosystem service in the general sense of the term.
Carbon sequestration is certainly a vital process that contributes to the production and
availability of many PEGS, but carbon sequestration is not a PEGS. We confidently hypothesize
that the average person does not use, consume, or enjoy carbon sequestration; in fact, many
people do not know what carbon sequestration is. However, many beneficiaries directly
interact with weather (including temperatures) and the risks associated with the presence of
particular environments (e.g., risk of flooding from sea level rise). Carbon sequestration and its
impact on global climate change (among other processes and functions) are important, but
intermediate to the supply of PEGS in an environment that a beneficiary directly uses,
consumes, or enjoys.
Intermediate ecosystem goods and services are vast, and including them in an ecosystem
services classification not only results in double-counting (see Section 3.4.5. How PEGS
Minimizes Double-Counting for details), disconnect between disciplines, and failure to
dependably make connections to human well-being, it also results in an unmanageable,
inconsistent classification system that is a burden to those trying to develop and use it. To be
clear, we are not criticizing sectors of academia, government, or society that chose to measure,
trade, and value intermediate services, such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration (among
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countless other intermediate services); they are simply outside the boundaries of FEGS-CS, as
are most other ecological structures, functions and processes.
5. CONNECTION BETWEEN PEGS AND INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
Economic goods and services have been tracked in the United States for nearly a century by
several means, one of which is by measuring economic activity of businesses, agencies, and
organizations. There are two dominant, albeit related, classification systems used in the
world's industrial sector-the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) system and
the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Both of the ISIC and NAICS were
developed to categorize businesses, agencies, and organizations so production-oriented
economic activity can be monitored by governments and businesses
(visit http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ for more information). For example, in the
United States, many forms (e.g., federal tax forms) for businesses require a NAICS code, by
which information is collected and used to develop economic indicators and estimate the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP). In the last decade, NAICS has slowly been replacing the ISIC in many
countries as the preferred industrial classification system. However, measuring the economic
activity (i.e., industrial processes and functions) of businesses (i.e., via NAICS) is only an
indicator of the value of economic goods and services. An effort to develop the North
American Product Classification System (NAPCS) is currently underway
(visit http://www.census.gov/eos/www/napcs/). NAPCS will facilitate the identification,
classification, and defining of products and services that are sold by those industry classes
categorized in NAICS, allowing direct valuation of final economic goods and services.
Ecosystems are the foundation for the industrial sector and the economy. Without ecosystem
goods and services, industry, the economy, and ultimately all species (including humans) would
cease to exist. While the goods and services provided in the economic sector are well-
accounted for (i.e., in NAICS or NAPCS), the contribution of ecosystem goods and services to the
economy has been a challenge, in part because a classification system that facilitates the
separation of ecosystem goods and services from economic goods and services has not existed.
FEGS-CS allows the explicit separation of ecosystem and economic goods and services (for an
explanation of how, revisit Section 2. Defining Ecosystem Services). Figure 9 illustrates the
ecosystem (green/white boxes) and economic (white/black boxes) production function
continuum, and how major ecosystem and economic components interact. This figure also
identifies the component with which each classification system (FEGS-CS, NAICS, and NAPCS) is
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associated. From Figure 9 , it is immediately clear that ecological processes and functions
(intermediate ecosystem goods and services) and industrial processes (NAICS) are comparable,
while FEGS and NAPCS both identify and define final [ecosystem/economic] goods and
services10. Identifying the FEGS provided by the environment to the industrial sector - either
directly (i.e., raw goods) or indirectly (i.e., goods that are transformed using human capital) -
would allow natural scientists and economists to establish explicit relationships between
ecosystem goods and services and the economic accounting system by linking the ecological
and economic production functions.
Ecological Processes
(Intermediate
Ecosystem Goods
and Services)
FEGS
Classification
System (FEGS-CS)
North American
Industrial
Classification
System (NAICS)
North American
Product
Classification
System (NAPCS)
Figure 9. Expanding on Figure 1, this flow chart illustrates the connections among the ecosystem (green) and
economic (black) production functions. Specifically, the relationship between FEGS and industrial classification
systems are represented, while major inputs (ecosystem and economic) into the goods and services that are
ultimately valued in the industrial classification systems are detailed.
As a start to establishing relationships between FEGS-CS and industrial classification systems,
we have identified and propose some connections between FEGS-CS and NAICS - specifically, in
the third column of each of the FEGS Matrices called "Potentially Relevant NAICS Code(s). We
were limited by the amount of complexity we could manage, as many of the beneficiaries in
NAICS and the FEGS-CS are not perfectly analogous - especially since FEGS-CS is associated with
goods and services, whereas NAICS is associated with processes (i.e., economic intermediates).
Note that Final Ecosystem Goods and Services (FEGS) are different from final goods and services (FGS) - an
economic term for the goods and services that are available for purchase by an ultimate user (i.e., with no
intention to further process the good or service. FGS are the last product in the economic production function,
and therefore include human capital and inputs.
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Nevertheless, using the 2012 NAICS US three-digit Codes11, we hypothesized which PEGS from
each Environmental Sub-Class could directly contribute to or be used by the NAICS industrial
class. For example, livestock grazers in
scrublands (FEGS-CS Code 25.0103) that utilize
flora and open space from the environment
(PEGS) are related to NAICS "Animal Production
and Aquaculture" industries (NAICS US Code
112). We found that many of the PEGS utilized
by beneficiaries (e.g., Irrigators, Food
Extractors, Power and Other Electric
Generators, etc.) could be clearly connected to
NAICS industries (i.e., processes). Some PEGS,
such as those provided to Learning and Non-
Use beneficiaries, could only be vaguely
connected to NAICS industries. Other PEGS,
specifically all those utilized by Recreational
and Subsistence beneficiaries, were entirely absent from the NAICS construct - unsurprisingly,
as these beneficiaries tend to utilize the environment with no or minimal economic inputs.
Ultimately, this exercise revealed that while there are some direct connections that can be
made between FEGS-CS and NAICS, both classification systems include many beneficiaries that
are unique to the environment or the economy (Figure 10). When the development of NAPCS
is complete, the relationship between final ecosystem goods and services and final economic
goods and services will be a more appropriate and vital connection to make.
6. USING THE FEGS-CS
At a minimum, we expect that the FEGS-CS will enhance communication regarding ecosystem
services. In particular, the FEGS-CS may serve as a standard approach to identify potential
defined FEGS for those seeking to describe, communicate, or study (i.e., measure, quantify,
mapping, model, and/or value) ecosystem services anywhere in the world. The potential users
of this FEGS-CS include individuals and firms in the public sector, private sector, and non-profit
organizations. If a given user knows the Environmental Classes and Sub-Classes that exist in a
The 2012 NAICS 2-6 Digit Codes can be downloaded as a Microsoft Excel file (.xls) from
http://www. census. gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch?chart=2012.
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particular area of interest, it is relatively easy to produce a list of potential beneficiaries and
potential PEGS using FEGS-CS. This, in itself, is an example of how communication can be
greatly improved by the application of FEGS-CS. Needless to say, the FEGS-CS is just a first step
within a larger transdisciplinary, scientific effort to develop the knowledge and tools necessary
to measure, quantify, mapping, model, and/or value ecosystem services over the landscape.
The following sections describe some of the next challenges that we believe need to be
addressed in further developing the FEGS concept and approach.
6.1. MEASURING FEGS
Eventually, metrics and indicators appropriate for specific FEGS will be included, where
possible, in the FEGS Matrices as an additional column. These metrics and indicators will
inform natural scientists what to measure so that the FEGS provided within a specific area (i.e.,
environments) may be identified and quantified. Ringold et al. (2013) provide some explicit
examples of potential metrics and indicators for FEGS provided by rivers and streams. Aside
from identifying metrics and
indicators, determining how they
can be appropriately aggregated to
represent FEGS will be an area of
necessary research.
At present, we imagine a process
where "Provisional" metrics and
indicators will be placed in the
FEGS-CS in the near future and
that, over time and through a
vetting process, it would be
possible for the Provisional FEGS
Metrics to achieve some level of approval for their usage from the user community. Details of
this effort are now being worked out (June 2013).
6.2. MAPPING FEGS
Mapping where FEGS [potentially] occur on the landscape is a vital step to determining their
current distribution. Because most FEGS-CS Environmental [Sub-]Classes are based on existing
landscape classes (revisit Section 3.2. Environmental Classes and Sub-Classes for details) and
beneficiaries, the full suite of potential FEGS and potential Beneficiary [Sub-]Categories that
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could exist in an area can already be identified. For example, in Figure 11, at least eight12
Environmental Sub-Classes are present in the study area (i.e., hexagon), and, therefore, a total
of 589 potential FEGS13 would exist. If some general information about an area is known (for
example, the forests in the study area are off-limits to hunting), some Beneficiary Sub-
Categories can be eliminated. Maps of potential FEGS are important because they are spatial
representations of where [on the earth's surface] specific FEGS may be provided, which may
help users explicitly recognize and address [potential] FEGS in their decision-making and while
communicating.
6.3. MODELING FEGS
Modeling FEGS will be important for at least three (related) efforts: (1) determining how
[changes in] intermediate ecosystem goods and services affects the provision of FEGS, (2)
making spatial linkages among different environments (i.e., Environmental Sub-Classes) to
predict tradeoffs among these environments as a result of consuming FEGS (i.e., using water
from rivers may impact fauna in a connected wetland), and (3) projecting potential societal
changes (i.e., tradeoffs) under different management, pressure, or stressor scenarios. In all of
these examples, FEGS, in essence, can be used as the environmental currency that are
quantified, valued, and projected under varying scenarios to consistently project future
conditions. Such future conditions of FEGS and the related economic and social outcomes due
to various tradeoffs could and should be directly analyzed and evaluated from a sustainability
perspective.
6.4. VALUING FEGS
Actual valuation of FEGS is outside the scope of this document. However, economists that we
have worked with in developing the FEGS-CS approach have been uniformly enthusiastic about
three characteristics of this system: 1) the clear and systematic identification of FEGS, 2) the
minimization of double counting and 3) the linkage to explicit first-order depictions of specific
beneficiaries. For these reasons, we anticipate that the use of FEGS-CS to identify, measure,
and model FEGS will facilitate future valuation efforts.
12 This number comes from the seven Environmental Sub-Classes identified in Figure 11, plus "31. Atmosphere",
which is ubiquitous. The other potentially relevant Environmental Sub-Class is "16. Groundwater", but other maps
would need to be overlaid/developed to identify the presence of this Environmental Sub-Class.
13 Many of the 589 potential FEGS are associated with the same Beneficiary Sub-Category and the same
Environmental Sub-Class. If the potential FEGS are grouped by Beneficiary Sub-Category and Environmental Sub-
Class, 338 sets of FEGS identified.
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6.5. NEXT STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PEGS
APPROACH
In the near term, we plan to participate in one or more
real world, on-the-ground, demonstrations or pilot
studies that would include FEGS-CS along with multiple
scales of ecosystem service mapping, applications of
process models, decision-support models, valuation
approaches, and quantification of resulting human well-
being. Progress will be made by collaborating with
interested parties (i.e., researchers, government entities,
academics, businesses, stakeholders) across disciplines.
There is no doubt that collaboration and the coordinated
use of FEGS-CS will expose many nuances and challenges
of applying the PEGS approach we propose here;
however, we also believe that PEGS introduces an
appropriate transdisciplinary setting to pursue
appropriate solutions. We fully expect that during this
demonstration phase, improvements will be made to the
FEGS-CS.
An important next step in the PEGS research, now that
an initial classification system for PEGS is available, is to
define beneficiaries for a servicescape. We define a
servicescape as the area or areas (as they can be non-
contiguous) that contain the beneficiaries that directly
enjoy, consume, or use the PEGS provided by a defined
region. We use the term "region" in a very general sense
to refer to any defined geographic boundary, such as a
town, a city, a county, a watershed, a state, an
ecoregion, or any other well-defined spatial area on the
surface of the earth14. In other words, a servicescape is
where the PEGS are realized, and therefore contain the beneficiaries to which the PEGS are
provided.
We use the term "surface of the earth" instead of "landscape", as a region [that provides PEGS] could be entirely
aquatic.
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PEGS can certainly be provided to beneficiaries within the region boundaries (Figure 12a), but
beneficiaries outside the region may also directly enjoy, consume, or use PEGS within the
region (Figure 12b). In many cases, the servicescape is much larger than the region in which the
PEGS are provided (Figure 12c). For example, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia provides FEGS
to non-use beneficiaries and recreational beneficiaries (who travel to the Great Barrier Reef) in
every continent on earth in addition to the local community that it serves. Therefore, the
servicescape that the Great Barrier Reef encompasses is vast. On the other hand, a small,
isolated stream in Northern Idaho in the United States may only provide FEGS to a few select
beneficiaries within the region who know of its existence and utilize FEGS derived therein. In
the near-term and into the future, social scientists and natural scientists will need to continue
to collaborate in order to define approaches that can adequately identify, quantify, or estimate
the beneficiaries associated with different FEGS servicescapes so projected changes in FEGS can
be related to human well-being and valued to inform decision making at multiple levels.
FEGS-CS Version 2.8a Page 35 DH Landers and AM Nahlik
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7. CITED REFERENCES
Anderson JR, Hardy EE, Roach JT, and Witmer RE. 1976. A Land Use and Land Cover
Classification System for Use with Remote Sensor Data. U.S. Geological Survey Professional
Paper 964. 41 pp.
Boyd JW and Banzhaf S. 2007. What are ecosystem services? The need for standardized
environmental accounting units. Ecological Economics 63: 616-26.
Carpenter SR, Mooney HA, Agard J, Caplstrano D, DeFries RS, Diaz S, Dietz T, Duralappah AK,
Oteng-Yeboah A, Pereira HM, Perrings C, Reid WV, Sarukhan J, Scholes RJ, and Whyte A. 2009.
Science for managing ecosystem services: beyond the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
Proceedings of the National Acadamies of Sciences 106: 1305-12.
Daily GC and Matson PA. 2008. Ecosystem services: From theory to implementation.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105: 9455-9456.
ECPC (Economic Classification Policy Committee), n.d. Issues Paper No. 2: Aggregation
Structures and Hierarches: http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/history/docs/issue paper
2.pdf
Engle VD. 2011. Estimating the provision of ecosystem services by Gulf of Mexico Coastal
Wetlands. Wetlands 31:179-193.
Fisher B and Turner RK. 2008. Ecosystem services: Classification for valuation. Biological
Conservation 141: 1167-69.
Fisher B, Turner RK, and Morling P. 2009. Defining and classifying ecosystem services for
decision making. Ecological Economics 68: 643-53.
Haines-Young R and Potschin M. 2010. Proposal for a Common International Classification of
Ecosystem Goods and Services (CICES) for Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting.
EEA/BSS/07/007. European Environment Agency, Nottingham, UK. 23 pp.
Haines-Young R and Potschin M. 2011. Common International Classification of Ecosystem
Services (CICES) 2011 Update. Paper prepared for discussion at the expert meeting on
ecosystem accounts organized by the UNSD, the EEA and the World Bank, London, December
2011. EEA/BSS/07/007. European Environment Agency, Nottingham, UK. 14 pp.
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Homer C, Huang C, Yang L, Wylie B, and Coan M. 2004. Development of a 2001 National
Landcover Database for the United States. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing:
70: 829-840.
Johnston RJ and Russell M. 2011. An operational structure for clarity in ecosystem service
values. Ecological Economics 70: 2243-49.
MEA. 2005. Ecosystem and Human Well-Being Volume 1: Current State and Trends: Findings of
the Condition and Trends Working Group. In Hassan R, Scholes RJ, and Ash N, (Eds), Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment. Island Press, Washington DC, US. 917 pp.
Nahlik AM, Kentula ME, Fennessy MS, and Landers DH. 2012a. Where is the consensus? A
proposed foundation for moving ecosystem service concepts into practice. Ecological
Economics 77: 27-35.
Nahlik AM, Landers DH, Ringold PL, and Weber MA. 2012b. Protecting our environmental
wealth: connecting ecosystem goods and services to human well-being. National Wetlands
Newsletter 34:14-18.
Ott W and Staub C. 2009. Welfare-Significant Environmental Indicators. A Feasibility Study on
providing a Statistical Basis for the Resources Policy. Summary. Environmental Studies No.
0913. Federal Office for the Environment, Bern, Switzerland. 11 pp.
Ringold PL, Boyd JW, Landers D, and Weber MA. 2009. Report from the Workshop on Indicators
of Final Ecosystem Services for Streams. EPA/600/R-09/137. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. 56 pp.
Ringold PL, Boyd JW, Landers DH, and Weber MA. 2013. What data should we collect? A
framework for identifying indicators of ecosystem contributions to human well-being. Frontiers
in Ecology and the Environment DOI: 10.1890/110156.
Ringold PL, Nahlik AM, Boyd JW, and Bernard D. 2011. Report from the Workshop on Indicators
of Final Ecosystem Goods and Services for Wetlands and Estuaries. EPA/600/X-11/014. US
Environmental Protection Agency. 78 pp.
Staub C, Ott W, Heusi F, Klingler G, Jenny A, Hacki M, and Hauser A. 2011. Indicators for
Ecosystem Goods and Services: Framework, methodology and recommendations for a welfare-
related environmental reporting. Environmental Studies No. 1102. Federal Office for the
Environment, Bern, Switzerland. 19 pp.
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The Heinz Center. 2008. The State of the Nation's Ecosystems 2008: Measuring the Land,
Waters, and Living Resources of The United States. Island Press, Washington DC, US. 368 pp.
UK National Ecosystem Assessment. 2011. The UK National Ecosystem Assessment: Synthesis of
the Key Findings. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK. 85 pp.
UNEP. 2009. Report from the Workshop on Ecosystem Service Indicators. "Developing and
Mainstreaming Ecosystem Service Indicators for Human Wellbeing: Gaps, Opportunities, and
Next Steps". 22-23 September 2009. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge,
UK. 33pp.
van den Besselaar P and Heimeriks G. 2001. Disciplinary, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary -
concepts and indicators. Paper presented at 8th Conference on Scientometrics and
Informetrics; July 16-20, 2001, Sydney, Australia.
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APPENDICES
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DEFINITIONS
approach
underlying philosophy leading to guiding principles from which to address ecosystem
services in a repeatable manner.
the interests of an individual (i.e., person, group, and/or firm) that drive active or passive
beneficiaries consumption and/or appreciation of ecosystem services resulting in an impact (positive or
negative) on their welfare.
beneficiary approach the classification of ecosystem services by Beneficiary [Sub-]Categories.
benefits
an impact, positive or negative, on human welfare.
classification system
an organized structure for identifying and organizing ecosystem services into a coherent
scheme.
community
engagement
involvement of individuals, groups, and firms that have an interest (active or passive) in
the ecosystem/environment.
ecosystem attributes
a biological, physical, or chemical characteristic or feature inherent to an
ecosystem/en viran men t.
a general term used to refer to "the benefits people obtain from ecosystems" (MEA 2005).
A common variation of this general term is "ecosystem goods and services" (EGS).
Ecosystem services, used in this general way, is all-inclusive and may include ecological
processes and functions (sometimes referred to as intermediate services), goods, services,
among anything from or within the environment.
ecosystem services
"components of nature, directly enjoyed, consumed, or used to yield human well-being"
(Boyd and Banzhaf, 2007). The final ecosystem service is a biophysical quality or feature
and needs minimal translation for relevance to human well-being. Furthermore, a final
ecosystem service is the last step in an ecological production function before the user
interacts with the ecosystem, either by enjoying, consuming, or using the good or service,
or using it as an input in the human economy.
Final Ecosystem
Goods and Services
(PEGS)
PEGS Matrices
a collection of 15 tables that represents the FEGS-CS, in which, for a specific
Environmental Sub-Class, beneficiaries and sets of PEGS are identified and described.
a structure that includes the relationships among a set of assumptions, concepts, and
practices that establish an approach for accomplishing a stated objective or objectives.
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implementation plan
intermediate
ecosystem goods and
services
medium
metrics and indicators
operational
production function
principles
servicescape
subsister
total economic value
transdisciplinary
viewscape
explicit methods and approaches by which an ecosystem service framework can be
applied.
ecological processes, functions, structures, characteristics, and interactions that are
essential to the existence of Final Ecosystem Goods and Services but are not directly
enjoyed, used, or consumed by beneficiaries.
a physical entity (e.g., water, air, land) from which beneficiaries receive a benefit. For
example, a commercial transporter interacts with the water (as a medium, the FEGS)
while ferrying people across a river.
a direct or indirect measurement of a FEGS that can be consistently and reliably related to
a FEGS. There can be multiple metrics and indicators for a single FEGS, possibly
necessitating the aggregation and weighting of metrics and indicators into an index.
used in a repeatable, consistent, and meaningful way.
models of the relationship between inputs and factors of production to production
outputs. In the case of ecosystem services, there can be both ecological production
functions, relating to natural structure and function (Daily and Matson 2008), and
economic production functions, relating to human capital and economic products.
a set of fundamental rules.
the area or areas (as they can be non-contiguous) that contain beneficiaries that directly
enjoy, consume, or use the FEGS provided by a defined region.
a beneficiary that relies on the environment's abundance [for water, food, timber, fiber,
and fur, and/or building materials) as a major supplement to their existence.
the value of the output from an economic production function (i.e., product) that includes
the ecological inputs (i.e., the ecological production function) and the inputs of labor and
capital goods. Value is unlikely to be identical with the combined market prices to the
separate inputs.
involving frequent communication and shared effort among two or more traditional
academic disciplines that have a common, discipline-transcending theory from which
language, concepts, and methods are developed to solve problems beyond the confines of
a single discipline (van den Besselaar and Heimehks 2001).
a scene in its entirety within a range of sight, which may include components such as
hdgelines, peaks, open meadows, or a "patchwork" of agricultural fields.
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Final Ecosystem Goods and Services (PEGS) Environmental Classification
X Environmental Classes
1 Aquatic
2 Terrestrial
3 Atmospheric
XX. Environmental Sub-Classes
11. Rivers and Streams
...include (but are not limited to)
major rivers
perennial streams and creeks
man-made canals
12. Wetlands
...include (but are not limited to)
isolated depressions
riparian wetlands
bogs and fens
tidal wetlands
13. Lakes and Ponds
...include (but are not limited to)
saline lakes
man-made systems (e.g., reservoirs, wet
quarries, reservoirs) excluding industrial
(i.e., manure ponds, sewage treatment
ponds, mining ponds, etc.)
14. Estuaries and Near Coastal Marine
...include (but are not limited to)
estuaries and bays
reefs
coastal lagoons
hyposaline and mesosaline deltas
intertidal shores, mud flats, tide pools
15. Open Oceans and Seas
...include (but are not limited to)
deep ocean
continental shelf
16. Groundwater
...include (but are not limited to)
rechargeable aquifers
geysers
water in caves
21. Forests
...include (but are not limited to)
uncut and wilderness area forests
timber plantations
woodlots
22. Agroecosystems
...include (but are not limited to)
orchards and vineyards
row crops and pasture/hay
tree farms (short term rotation, e.g.,
Xmas trees, ornamentals, pulp)
23. Created Greenspace
...include (but are not limited to)
parks, parkways, trees
cemeteries and airfields
lawns and golf courses
24. Grasslands
...include (but are not limited to)
tall- and short-grass prairies
managed (unplanted) fields
restored mines, landfills, etc.
25. Scrublands / Shrublands
...include (but are not limited to)
high desert sagelands
forested sand dunes
juniper scrublands
26. Barren / Rock and Sand
...include (but are not limited to)
abandoned (dry) quarries
dry desert
beaches, unvegetated dunes
27. Tundra
...include (but are not limited to)
lichen, moss, sedge cover
28. Ice and Snow
...include (but are not limited to)
glaciers
permanent snow
alpine
31. Atmosphere
See Principle #16 for more information
on Atmosphere Environmental Sub-Class.
Note: Beneficiaries, PEGS, and indicators are being identified for each Environmental Sub-Class (e.g., two-digit number). Italicized text
provides some specific examples of environments characteristic of the sub-classes.
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
Environmental Classes
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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Final Ecosystem Goods and Services (PEGS) Beneficiary Categorization
XX.XX Beneficiary Categories
00.01 Agricultural
00.02 Commercial / Industrial
00.03 Government, Municipal, and
Residential
00.04 Commercial / Military
Transportation
00.05 Subsistence
XX.XXXX Beneficiary Sub-Categories
00.0101 Irrigators
00.0102 CAFO Operators
00.0103 Livestock Grazers
00.0104 Agricultural Processors
00.0105 Aquaculturists
00.0106 Farmers
00.0107 Foresters
00.0201 Food Extractors
00.0202 Timber, Fiber, and Ornamental
Extractors
00.0203 Industrial Processors
00.0204 Industrial Dischargers
00.0205 Electric and other Energy
Generators
00.0206 Resource-Dependent Businesses
00.0207 Pharmaceutical and Food
Supplement Suppliers
00.0208 Fur/ Hide Trappers and Hunters
00.0301 Municipal Drinking Water Plant
Operators
00.0302 Waste Water Treatment Plant
Operators
00.0303 Residental Property Owners
00.0304 Military / Coast Guard
00.0401 Transporters of Goods
00.0402 Transporters of People
00.0501 Water Subsisters
00.0502 Food Subsisters
00.0503 Timber, Fiber, and Fur/ Hide
Subsisters
00.0504 Building Material Subsisters
XX.XX Beneficiary Categories
00.06 Recreational
00.07 Inspirational
00.08 Learning
00.09 Non-Use
00.10 Humanity
XX.XXXX Beneficiary Sub-Categories
00.0601 Experiencers and Viewers
00.0602 Food Pickers and Gatherers
00.0603 Hunters
00.0604 Anglers
00.0605 Waders, Swimmers, and Divers
00.0606 Boaters
00.0701 Spiritual and Ceremonial
Participants and Participants of
Celebration
00.0702 Artists
00.0801 Educators and Students
00.0802 Researchers
00.0901 People Who Care (Existence)
00.0902 People Who Care (Option /
Bequest)
00.1001 All Humans
FEGS-CS (V.1.8)
Beneficiary Categories
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MATRIX SUMMARY
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Beneficiary Description
FINAL ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES (PEGS) IDENTIFIED FOR EACH ENVIRONMENTAL SUB-CLASS
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MATRIX SUMMARY
Number of Beneficiary Sub-Categories Presentin Each
Environmental Sub-Class
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11. RIVERS AND STREAMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
11.01 Agricultural
11.0101 Irrigators
11.0102 CAFO Operators
1 1 .01 03 Livestock Grazers
11.0104 Agricultural Processors
11.0105 Aquaculturists
111
112
112
115,311
112
Irrigators interact with aquatic environments, as they
consume water from aquatic environments for
maintaining crops, often moving water through ditches
and canals. Note that Farmers and Irrigators are
different beneficiaries.
This beneficiary raises large, dense populations of
livestock in a confined area (whether indoors or
outdoors).
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for washing
edible products.
Aquaculturists farm aquatic fauna, such as fish,
shrimp, oysters, etc. Those who cultivate aquatic flora
are accounted for under the Farmer Beneficiary Sub-
Category.
•water
•water
•water
• flora
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• water for growing and maintaining crops
• water for livestock consumption
• water suitable for livestock consumption
• non-cultivated vegetation for livestock
consumption
• water for processing edible products
• opportunity provided by the environment
for cultivating aquatic organisms
• conditions (i.e., water quality) provided by
the environment for cultivating aquatic
organisms
1 1 .02 Commercial / Industrial
1 1 .0201 Food Extractors
110202Timber'Fiber'and
Ornamental Extractors
1 1 .0203 Industrial Processors
1 1 .0204 Industrial Dischargers
,, Electric and other
11.0205 ,. _
Energy Generators
114,311,
312,454
339, 424,
453, 454
313-339
211,212,
221,311-339
221
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered PEGS.
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for cooling,
producing pulp, etc. The water has no contact with
edibles.
Industrial dischargers use the environment [only] for
discharging water, material (i.e., sand and gravel,
garbage), and emissions. Hydraulic tracking practices
involve industrial discharge to groundwater.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
• flora
• fauna
• fiber
• natural
materials
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• wild rice, watercress, water
pepper
•fish, crawfish, clams,
snails, alligator
• reeds, grasses
• mollusk shells
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated fiber for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• water suitable for cooling or processing
industrial products
• opportunity to discharge into the
environment
• medium for receiving industrial discharge
• opportunity to install power generation
structures, such as dams and water
turbines
• flowing water that can be used for energy
generation
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
11. Rivers and Streams
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11. RIVERS AND STREAMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
1 1 0206 Resource-DePendent
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
1 1 .0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
11.0208FuVuHid?TraPPelS
and Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
114
General Beneficiary Description
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
•fish for fish oil
• beaver
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
11.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
-i-i nini Municipal Drinking
I I .UOU I . ... . _. . -. .
Water Plant Operators
Waste Water
1 1 .0302 Treatment Plant
Operators
1 1 0303 Residential Property
Owners
1 1 .0304 Military / Coast Guard
221
221
531,532,814
928
This beneficiary is responsible for providing water to a
community and may do so by collecting water from
rivers, reservoirs, lakes, wells, bays, or estuaries.
Water is treated and distributed. Direct precip is not
generally used as a water source.
This beneficiary uses the environment [only] for
discharging treated water.
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
•water
•water
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• water suitable for processing by a
municipal drinking water plant
• medium for discharging [treated
municipal wastewater] into the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
1 1 .04 Commercial / Military Transportation
1 1 .0401 Transporters of Goods
1 1 .0402 Transporters of People
483
483, 487
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
11.05 Subsistence
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
11. Rivers and Streams
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11. RIVERS AND STREAMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
1 1 .0501 Water Subsisters
1 1 .0502 Food Subsisters
0503 Timber' Fiber, and Fur /
Hide Subsisters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
Water Subsisters rely on a natural source for drinking
water and may use wells or cisterns for storage (i. e. ,
they do not receive municipal drinking water). Water
purity is important, as water is not or only minimally
treated.
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur /hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur /hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
PEGS
•water
• flora
• fauna
• fiber
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• wild rice, watercress, water
pepper
•fish, crawfish, clams,
snails, alligator
• reeds, grasses
• moose, beaver
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• water suitable for drinking (i.e., human
consumption)
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
11.06 Recreational
1 1 0601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
1106Q2 Food Pickers and
Gatherers
11.0603 Hunters
None
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
•sounds and
scents
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
• crawfish, clams, snails
• moose, ducks, geese
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., insects, some
aquatic organisms, etc.) that are picked
and/or gathered (i.e., not hunted or fished)
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
11. Rivers and Streams
Page 48
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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11. RIVERS AND STREAMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
1 1 .0604 Anglers
Waders, Swimmers,
1 1 .UoUo . _.
and Divers
1 1 .0606 Boaters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
Anglers fish recreationally (i.e., not for survival) and
include catch-and-release or catch-and-consume
activities. Stocked fish are not a PEGS, as they are
considered a human input. This beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
This beneficiary recreates in or under the water by
either wading, swimming, or diving (i.e., snorkeling,
SCUBA diving). By definition, this beneficiary has
contact with water.
Boaters may use motorized (i. e., motor boats) or non-
motorized boats (i.e., canoes, kayaks, rafts) to
recreate. This beneficiary has potential contact with
water.
PEGS
•fish
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
•water
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• fish in the water
• opportunity and conditions for wading,
swimming, and/or diving
• opportunity for recreational boating
• medium and conditions for recreational
boating
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
11.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
1 1 .0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
1 1 .0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• birds singing, rapids
• shells, dried flowers
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
11.08 Learning
11.080l"U?at°rSand
Students
11.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
11.09 Non-Use
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
11. Rivers and Streams
Page 49
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
11. RIVERS AND STREAMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
1 1 0901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
1 1 nqnp People Who Care
' ' 'UMU^ (Option / Bequest)
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
813,924
813,924
General Beneficiary Description
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
11. Rivers and Streams
Page 50
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
12. WETLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
FEGS
Examples of FEGS
Importance of FEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
12.01 Agricultural
12.0101 Irrigators
12.0103 Livestock Grazers
12.0105 Aquaculturists
12.0106 Farmers
111
112
112
111, 113
Irrigators interact with aquatic environments, as they
consume water from aquatic environments for
maintaining crops, often moving water through ditches
and canals. Note that Farmers and Irrigators are
different beneficiaries.
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
Aquaculturists farm aquatic fauna, such as fish,
shrimp, oysters, etc. Those who cultivate aquatic flora
are accounted for under the Farmer Beneficiary Sub-
Category.
Farmers may plant annual crops (e.g., corn,
soybeans, rice) or introduce cultivars that produce
perennial, long-term crops (e.g., hay, grapes,
cranberries, watercress, Christmas trees). Note that
Farmers and Irrigators are different beneficiaries.
•water
•water
• flora
• open space
• presence of the
environment
•water
•soil
• open space
• pollinators
• depredators
and (pest)
predators
• salt hay, grasses
• water for growing and maintaining crops
• water suitable for livestock consumption
• non-cultivated vegetation for livestock
consumption
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to graze
livestock
• opportunity provided by the environment
for cultivating aquatic organisms
• medium and conditions (i.e., water
quality) provided by the environment for
cultivating aquatic organisms
• suitable soil in which annual or perennial
crops (NOT crops themselves) can be
grown
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) in which to
grow annual or perennial crops (NOT
crops themselves)
• wild pollinators that provide opportunity
to grow annual or perennial crops
• wild depredators and (pest) predators
that provide opportunity to grow crops
12.02 Commercial / Industrial
12.0201 Food Extractors
120202 Timber' Fiber' and
Ornamental Extractors
12.0204 Industrial Dischargers
114,311,
312,454
339, 424,
453, 454
211,212,
221,311-339
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered FEGS.
Industrial dischargers use the environment [only] for
discharging water, material (i.e., sand and gravel,
garbage), and emissions. Hydraulic tracking practices
involve industrial discharge to groundwater.
• flora
• fauna
• timber
• fiber
• natural
materials
• presence of the
environment
•water
•wild rice, lotus root
• fish, crawfish, duck
• cypress
• sphagnum, cattails,
grasses
• shells, dried flowers
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated timber (i.e., trees) for
commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated fiber for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• opportunity to discharge into the
environment
• medium for receiving industrial discharge
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
12. Wetlands
Page 51
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
12. WETLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
•nmnc Resource-Dependent
IZ.UZUO _
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
12.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
1 2.0208 Fur /Hide Trappers
and Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
114
General Beneficiary Description
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• salix alba (salicylic acid),
sweet flag
• beaver, alligator, snake
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
12.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
Waste Water
12.0302 Treatment Plant
Operators
120303 Residential Property
Owners
12.0304 Military /Coast Guard
221
531,532,814
928
This beneficiary uses the environment [only] for
discharging treated water.
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
•water
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• medium for discharging [treated
municipal wastewater] into the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
12.05 Subsistence
12.0502 Food Subsisters
None
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
• flora
• fauna
•fish, crawfish, ducks, nutria
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
12. Wetlands
Page 52
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
12. WETLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
12 0503 Timber' Fiber' and Fur/
Hide Subsisters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur /hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur /hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
PEGS
• timber
• fiber
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• cypress
• reeds, grasses, palm
leaves
• moose, beaver, alligator
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• timber (i.e., trees) used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
12.06 Recreational
120601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
1 2.0602 ^°°dPiCkerSand
Gatherers
12.0603 Hunters
12.0604 Anglers
12 0605 Waders' Swimmers,
and Divers
None
None
None
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
Anglers fish recreationally (i.e., not for survival) and
include catch-and-release or catch-and-consume
activities. Stocked fish are not a PEGS, as they are
considered a human input. This beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
This beneficiary recreates in or under the water by
either wading, swimming, or diving (i.e., snorkeling,
SCUBA diving). By definition, this beneficiary has
contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
• sounds and
scents
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
•fish
• presence of the
environment
• crawfish, mussels
• beaver, ducks, geese,
alligator
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., insects, some
aquatic organisms, etc.) that are picked
and/or gathered (i.e., not hunted or fished)
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
• fish in the water
• opportunity and conditions for wading,
swimming, and/or diving
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
12. Wetlands
Page 53
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
12. WETLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
12.0606 Boaters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
General Beneficiary Description
Boaters may use motorized (i. e., motor boats) or non-
motorized boats (i.e., canoes, kayaks, rafts) to
recreate. This beneficiary has potential contact with
water.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
•water
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for recreational boating
• medium and conditions for recreational
boating
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
12.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
12.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
12.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• birds singing, frogs
croaking
• shells, dried flowers
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
12.08 Learning
1 2.0801 Educators and
Students
12.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
12.09 Non-Use
120901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
People Who Care
IAUMU^ (Option / Bequest)
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
12. Wetlands
Page 54
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
13. LAKES AND PONDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
13.01 Agricultural
13.0101 Irrigators
13.0102 CAFO Operators
13.0103 Livestock Grazers
13.0104 Agricultural Processors
13.0105 Aquaculturists
111
112
112
115,311
112
Irrigators interact with aquatic environments, as they
consume water from aquatic environments for
maintaining crops, often moving water through ditches
and canals. Note that Farmers and Irrigators are
different beneficiaries.
This beneficiary raises large, dense populations of
livestock in a confined area (whether indoors or
outdoors).
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for washing
edible products.
Aquaculturists farm aquatic fauna, such as fish,
shrimp, oysters, etc. Those who cultivate aquatic flora
are accounted for under the Farmer Beneficiary Sub-
Category.
•water
•water
•water
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• water for growing and maintaining crops
• water for livestock consumption
• water suitable for livestock consumption
• water for processing edible products
• opportunity provided by the environment
for cultivating aquatic organisms
• medium and conditions (i.e., water
quality) provided by the environment for
cultivating aquatic organisms
13.02 Commercial / Industrial
13.0201 Food Extractors
Timber, Fiber, and
Ornamental Extractors
13.0203 Industrial Processors
13.0204 Industrial Dischargers
1 3.0205 ^leCtriC*nd°thter
Energy Generators
114,311,
312,454
339, 424,
453, 454
313-339
211,212,
221,311-339
221
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered PEGS.
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for cooling,
producing pulp, etc. The water has no contact with
edibles.
Industrial dischargers use the environment [only] for
discharging water, material (i.e., sand and gravel,
garbage), and emissions. Hydraulic tracking practices
involve industrial discharge to groundwater.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
• flora
• fauna
• natural
materials
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• fish, brine shrimp (from
saline lakes)
• shells, driftwood
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• water suitable for cooling or processing
industrial products
• opportunity to discharge into the
environment
• medium for receiving industrial discharge
• opportunity to install power generation
structures, such as dams and water
turbines
• flowing water that can be used for energy
generation
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
13. Lakes and Ponds
Page 55
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
13. LAKES AND PONDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
i-j mne Resource-Dependent
lo.UZUO _
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
13.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
1 3.0208 Fur /Hide Trappers
and Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
114
General Beneficiary Description
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
•fish for fish oil
• beaver
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
13.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
11 mm Municipal Drinking
I O.UOU I . . . . _. . -. .
Water Plant Operators
Waste Water
13.0302 Treatment Plant
Operators
130303 Residential Property
Owners
13.0304 Military /Coast Guard
221
221
531,532,814
928
This beneficiary is responsible for providing water to a
community and may do so by collecting water from
rivers, reservoirs, lakes, wells, bays, or estuaries.
Water is treated and distributed. Direct precip is not
generally used as a water source.
This beneficiary uses the environment [only] for
discharging treated water.
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
•water
•water
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• water suitable for processing by a
municipal drinking water plant
• medium for discharging [treated
municipal wastewater] into the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
1 3.04 Commercial / Military Transportation
13.0401 Transporters of Goods
13.0402 Transporters of People
483
483, 487
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
13.05 Subsistence
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
13. Lakes and Ponds
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DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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13. LAKES AND PONDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
13.0501 Water Subsisters
13.0502 Food Subsisters
130503 Timber' Fiber' and Fur/
Hide Subsisters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
Water Subsisters rely on a natural source for drinking
water and may use wells or cisterns for storage (i. e. ,
they do not receive municipal drinking water). Water
purity is important, as water is not or only minimally
treated.
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur /hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur /hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
PEGS
•water
• flora
• fauna
• fiber
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• fish, brine shrimp (from
saline lakes)
• reeds
• beaver
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• water suitable for drinking (i.e., human
consumption)
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
13.06 Recreational
130601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
1 3.0602 Food Pickers and
Gatherers
13.0603 Hunters
None
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
•sounds and
scents
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
• mussels, clams
• beaver, ducks, geese
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., insects, some
aquatic organisms, etc.) that are picked
and/or gathered (i.e., not hunted or fished)
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
13. Lakes and Ponds
Page 57
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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13. LAKES AND PONDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
13.0604 Anglers
-1-3 ncnc Waders, Swimmers,
1 O.UOUO . _ .
and Divers
13.0606 Boaters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
Anglers fish recreationally (i.e., not for survival) and
include catch-and-release or catch-and-consume
activities. Stocked fish are not a PEGS, as they are
considered a human input. This beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
This beneficiary recreates in or under the water by
either wading, swimming, or diving (i.e., snorkeling,
SCUBA diving). By definition, this beneficiary has
contact with water.
Boaters may use motorized (i. e., motor boats) or non-
motorized boats (i.e., canoes, kayaks, rafts) to
recreate. This beneficiary has potential contact with
water.
PEGS
•fish
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
•water
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• fish in the water
• opportunity and conditions for wading,
swimming, and/or diving
• opportunity for recreational boating
• medium and conditions for recreational
boating
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
13.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
13.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
13.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• waves lapping, fish
splashing
• shells, driftwood
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
13.08 Learning
1 3.0801 Educators and
Students
13.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
13.09 Non-Use
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
13. Lakes and Ponds
Page 58
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
13. LAKES AND PONDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
130901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
nrwnp People Who Care
IJ-UMU^ (Option / Bequest)
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
813,924
813,924
General Beneficiary Description
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
13. Lakes and Ponds
Page 59
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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14. ESTUARIES AND NEAR SHORE MARINE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
FEGS
Examples of FEGS
Importance of FEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
14.01 Agricultural
14.0103 Livestock Grazers
14.0104 Agricultural Processors
14.0105 Aquaculturists
112
115,311
112
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for washing
edible products.
Aquaculturists farm aquatic fauna, such as fish,
shrimp, oysters, etc. Those who cultivate aquatic flora
are accounted for under the Farmer Beneficiary Sub-
Category.
•water
• flora
• open space
•water
• presence of the
environment
• water suitable for livestock consumption
• non-cultivated vegetation for livestock
consumption
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to graze
livestock
• water for processing edible products
• opportunity provided by the environment
for cultivating aquatic organisms
14.02 Commercial / Industrial
14.0201 Food Extractors
! 4.0202 Timber, Fiber, and
Ornamental Extractors
14.0203 Industrial Processors
14.0204 Industrial Dischargers
140205EleCtriCand°ther
Energy Generators
140206 Resource-DePendent
Businesses
114,311,
312,454
339, 424,
453, 454
313-339
211,212,
221,311-339
221
487,712,
713,721,722
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered FEGS.
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for cooling,
producing pulp, etc. The water has no contact with
edibles.
Industrial dischargers use the environment [only] for
discharging water, material (i.e., sand and gravel,
garbage), and emissions. Hydraulic tracking practices
involve industrial discharge to groundwater.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
• flora
• fauna
• fiber
• natural
materials
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
• kelp, seaweed, pickleweed
• fish, oysters, clams,
mussels, crabs
• grasses
• shells, driftwood
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated fiber for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• water suitable for cooling or processing
industrial products
• opportunity to discharge into the
environment
• medium for receiving industrial discharge
• opportunity to install power generation
structures, such as dams and water
turbines
• flowing water that can be used for energy
generation
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
14. Estuaries and Near Shore Marine
Page 60
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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14. ESTUARIES AND NEAR SHORE MARINE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Pharmaceutical and
14.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
1 4.0208 Fur /Hide Trappers
and Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
325, 339, 424
114
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
PEGS
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• algae, kelp
•fish for fish oil
• alligators, crocodiles, seals
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
14.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
14.0301 I^fpf D™kingt
Water Plant Operators
Waste Water
14.0302 Treatment Plant
Operators
140303 Residential Property
Owners
14.0304 Military /Coast Guard
221
221
531,532,814
928
This beneficiary is responsible for providing water to a
community and may do so by collecting water from
rivers, reservoirs, lakes, wells, bays, or estuaries.
Water is treated and distributed. Direct precip is not
generally used as a water source.
This beneficiary uses the environment [only] for
discharging treated water.
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
•water
•water
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• water suitable for processing (via
desalination) by a municipal drinking water
plant
• medium for discharging [treated
municipal wastewater] into the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of flooding, erosion, and pest infestation
on the property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
14.04 Commercial / Military Transportation
14.0401 Transporters of Goods
14.0402 Transporters of People
483
483, 487
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
14.05 Subsistence
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
14. Estuaries and Near Shore Marine
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DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
14. ESTUARIES AND NEAR SHORE MARINE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
14.0502 Food Subsisters
None
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
• flora
1 fauna
kelp, seaweed, pickleweed
fish, oysters, clams,
mussels, crabs
edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
14.0503
Timber, Fiber, and Fur/
Hide Subsisters
None
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur/hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur/hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
• timber
1 fiber
1 fauna
driftwood
• reeds, grasses, palm
leaves
alligators, crocodiles, seals
timber (i.e., trees) used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
14.06 Recreational
140601
ExPeriencers and
Viewers
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
•sounds and
scents
waves crashing, seagulls
opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
landscape that provides a sensory
experience
organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles
etc.) that can be viewed
sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
14.0602
Food Pickers and
Gatherers
None
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
1 flora
1 fauna
kelp, seaweed, pickleweed
oysters, clams, mussels,
crabs
edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., insects, some
aquatic organisms, etc.) that are picked
and/or gathered (i.e., not hunted or fished)
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
14.0603 Hunters
None
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
1 fauna
duck, geese, deer, moose
organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles
etc.) that can be hunted
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
14. Estuaries and Near Shore Marine
Page 62
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
14. ESTUARIES AND NEAR SHORE MARINE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
14.0604 Anglers
140605WaderS'SwimmerS'
and Divers
14.0606 Boaters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
Anglers fish recreationally (i.e., not for survival) and
include catch-and-release or catch-and-consume
activities. Stocked fish are not a PEGS, as they are
considered a human input. This beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
This beneficiary recreates in or under the water by
either wading, swimming, or diving (i.e., snorkeling,
SCUBA diving). By definition, this beneficiary has
contact with water.
Boaters may use motorized (i. e., motor boats) or non-
motorized boats (i.e., canoes, kayaks, rafts) to
recreate. This beneficiary has potential contact with
water.
PEGS
•fish
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
•water
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• fish in the water
• opportunity and conditions for wading,
swimming, and/or diving
• opportunity for recreational boating
• medium and conditions for recreational
boating
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
14.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
14.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
14.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• waves crashing, seagulls
• driftwood, shells
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
14.08 Learning
1 4.0801 Educators and
Students
14.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
14.09 Non-Use
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
14. Estuaries and Near Shore Marine
Page 63
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
14. ESTUARIES AND NEAR SHORE MARINE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
140901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
140902 PeOP'e Wh° CarS
I4-UMU^ (Option / Bequest)
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
813,924
813,924
General Beneficiary Description
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
14. Estuaries and Near Shore Marine
Page 64
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
15. OPEN OCEANS AND SEAS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
15.01 Agricultural
15.0105 Aquaculturists
112
Aquaculturists farm aquatic fauna, such as fish,
shrimp, oysters, etc. Those who cultivate aquatic flora
are accounted for under the Farmer Beneficiary Sub-
Category.
• presence of the
environment
•water
• opportunity provided by the environment
for cultivating aquatic organisms
• medium and conditions (i.e., water
quality) provided by the environment for
cultivating aquatic organisms
15.02 Commercial / Industrial
15.0201 Food Extractors
15.0203 Industrial Processors
15.0204 Industrial Dischargers
150205 Electric and otner
Energy Generators
150206 Resource-DePendent
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
15.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
114,311,
312,454
211,212
211,212
221
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for cooling,
producing pulp, etc. The water has no contact with
edibles.
Industrial dischargers use the environment [only] for
discharging water, material (i.e., sand and gravel,
garbage), and emissions. Hydraulic tracking practices
involve industrial discharge to groundwater.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
• flora
• fauna
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
• kelp
•fish, whales, shark
• Sargassum
•fish for fish oil
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• water suitable for cooling or processing
industrial products (specifically oil rigs, in
this case)
• opportunity to discharge into the
environment (by oil rigs and cruise liners,
in this case)
• medium for receiving industrial discharge
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• flowing water (i.e., waves) that can be
used for energy generation
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure (specifically, cruise liners)
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
15.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
15.0304 Military /Coast Guard
928
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
1 5.04 Commercial / Military Transportation
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
15. Open Oceans and Seas
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DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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15. OPEN OCEANS AND SEAS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
15.0401 Transporters of Goods
15.0402 Transporters of People
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
483
483, 487
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
15.06 Recreational
150601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
15.0603 Hunters
15.0604 Anglers
Waders, Swimmers,
1 o.UoUo . _ .
and Divers
15.0606 Boaters
None
None
None
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
Anglers fish recreationally (i.e., not for survival) and
include catch-and-release or catch-and-consume
activities. Stocked fish are not a PEGS, as they are
considered a human input. This beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
This beneficiary recreates in or under the water by
either wading, swimming, or diving (i.e., snorkeling,
SCUBA diving). By definition, this beneficiary has
contact with water.
Boaters may use motorized (i. e., motor boats) or non-
motorized boats (i.e., canoes, kayaks, rafts) to
recreate. This beneficiary has potential contact with
water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• fauna
• sounds and
scents
• fauna
•fish
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
•water
•whales, sharks, dolphin
•whales, albatrosses
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
• fish in the water
• opportunity and conditions for wading,
swimming, and/or diving
• opportunity for recreational boating
• medium and conditions for recreational
boating
15.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
15.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
813
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
15. Open Oceans and Seas
Page 66
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15. OPEN OCEANS AND SEAS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
15.0702 Artists
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
339, 423,
424,512,711
General Beneficiary Description
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
Examples of PEGS
• whale calls, waves
• driftwood
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
15.08 Learning
150801 Educatorsand
Students
15.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
15.09 Non-Use
1 5.0901 | people Who Care
(Existence)
150902 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Option / Bequest)
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
15. Open Oceans and Seas
Page 67
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16. GROUNDWATER
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
16.01 Agricultural
16.0101 Irrigators
16.0102 CAFO Operators
16.0103 Livestock Grazers
16.0104 Agricultural Processors
16.0105 Aquaculturists
111
112
112
115,311
112
Irrigators interact with aquatic environments, as they
consume water from aquatic environments for
maintaining crops, often moving water through ditches
and canals. Note that Farmers and Irrigators are
different beneficiaries.
This beneficiary raises large, dense populations of
livestock in a confined area (whether indoors or
outdoors).
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for washing
edible products.
Aquaculturists farm aquatic fauna, such as fish,
shrimp, oysters, etc. Those who cultivate aquatic flora
are accounted for under the Farmer Beneficiary Sub-
Category.
•water
•water
•water
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• water for growing and maintaining crops
• water for livestock consumption
• water suitable for livestock consumption
• water for processing edible products
• opportunity provided by the environment
for cultivating aquatic organisms
• medium and conditions (i.e., water
quality) provided by the environment for
cultivating aquatic organisms
16.02 Commercial / Industrial
16.0203 Industrial Processors
16.0204 Industrial Dischargers
160205Electricand°ther
Energy Generators
160206ReS°UrCe-Dependent
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
16.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
313-339
211,212
221
712,713,
721,722
325, 339, 424
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for cooling,
producing pulp, etc. The water has no contact with
edibles.
Industrial dischargers use the environment [only] for
discharging water, material (i.e., sand and gravel,
garbage), and emissions. Hydraulic tracking practices
involve industrial discharge to groundwater.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
•water
• presence of the
environment
•water
• water suitable for cooling or processing
industrial products
• opportunity to discharge into the
environment
• medium for receiving industrial discharge
• water that can be used for (geothermal)
energy generation
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of subsidence and sinkholes on the
property
• water used in medicines or sold for
medicinal purposes
16.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
16. Groundwater
Page 68
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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16. GROUNDWATER
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
ifimm MuniciPal Drinking
Water Plant Operators
160303 Residential Property
Owners
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
221
531,532,814
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary is responsible for providing water to a
community and may do so by collecting water from
rivers, reservoirs, lakes, wells, bays, or estuaries.
Water is treated and distributed. Direct precip is not
generally used as a water source.
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
PEGS
•water
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• water suitable for processing by a
municipal drinking water plant
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of subsidence and sinkholes on the
property
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
16.05 Subsistence
16.0501 Water Subsisters
None
Water Subsisters rely on a natural source for drinking
water and may use wells or cisterns for storage (i. e. ,
they do not receive municipal drinking water). Water
purity is important, as water is not or only minimally
treated.
•water
• water suitable for drinking (i.e., human
consumption)
16.06 Recreational
1 6.0601 5XperienCerSand
Viewers
16 0605 Waders' Swimmers,
and Divers
16.0606 Boaters
None
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary recreates in or under the water by
either wading, swimming, or diving (i.e., snorkeling,
SCUBA diving). By definition, this beneficiary has
contact with water.
Boaters may use motorized (i. e., motor boats) or non-
motorized boats (i.e., canoes, kayaks, rafts) to
recreate. This beneficiary has potential contact with
water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• sounds and
scents
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
•water
• geysers
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it, and groundwater
phenomena
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• opportunity and conditions for wading
and swimming (particularly in hot or
mineral springs), and/or diving (particularly
in caves)
• opportunity for recreational boating (i.e.,
in caves)
• medium and conditions for recreational
boating (i.e., in caves)
16.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
16.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
813
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
16. Groundwater
Page 69
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
16. GROUNDWATER
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
16.0702 Artists
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
339, 423,
424,512,711
General Beneficiary Description
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
Examples of PEGS
• water dripping in caves,
geysers
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
16.08 Learning
1 6.0801 Educators and
Students
16.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
16.09 Non-Use
1 6.0901 People Who Care
(Existence)
160902 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Option / Bequest)
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
16. Groundwater
Page 70
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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21. FORESTS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
FEGS
Examples of FEGS
Importance of FEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
21.01 Agricultural
21.0107 Foresters
113
Foresters introduce tree cultivars and nurture those
cultivars as they grow into trees, which are harvested.
The rotation for the tree crops may be as short as 10
years or many decades.
•soil
• open space
• suitable soil in which trees can be
cultivated (NOT cultivated trees
themselves)
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) in which
trees grow and to cultivate trees
21 .02 Commercial / Industrial
21.0201 Food Extractors
21 0202 Timber' Fiber' and
Ornamental Extractors
TI mnc Resource-Dependent
Z I .UZUO „
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
21.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
21.0208FuVuHid?TraPPere
and Hunters
113, 114,
311,312,454
113,339,
424, 453, 454
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
114
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered FEGS.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• fiber
• natural
materials
• timber
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• fauna
• garlic mustard, pawpaw,
blackberries, maple sap
• deer, bear, rabbit, elk,
grouse, turkey, boar
• cork
• rubber, lichens, mosses
•firs, pines, oaks
• ginseng, bloodroot, cocoa
• deer antler velvet, bear
bladders
• mink, fox, coyote, bear
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated fiber for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated timber (i.e., trees) for
commercial use or sale
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of erosion, fire, and pest infestation on the
property
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) used in medicines
or sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
21.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
21. Forests
Page 71
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-------
21. FORESTS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
21.0303
Residential Property
Owners
531,532,814
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
presence of the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of erosion, fire, and pest infestation on the
property
21.0304 Military/Coast Guard
928
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
presence of the
environment
• open space
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
21.05 Subsistence
21.0502 Food Subsisters
None
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
• flora
1 fauna
'fungi
garlic mustard, pawpaw,
blackberries
deer, bear, rabbit, elk,
grouse, turkey, boar
edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that are hunted or
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
21.0503
Timber, Fiber, and Fur/
Hide Subsisters
None
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur/hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur/hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
• timber
1 fiber
1 fauna
firs, pines, oaks
• grasses, leaves, vines,
hemp
deer, bear, rabbit, elk
timber (i.e., trees) used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
21.06 Recreational
21.0601
Experiencers and
Viewers
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
•sounds and
scents
leaves rustling, birds
singing, wind, decay
opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
landscape that provides a sensory
experience
organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles
etc.) that can be viewed
organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that can be viewed
sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
21. Forests
Page 72
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
21. FORESTS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
21.0602^°°dPickerSand
Gatherers
21.0603 Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
PEGS
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• garlic mustard, pawpaw,
blackberries
• deer, bear, rabbit, elk,
grouse, turkey, boar
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., insects, some
aquatic organisms, etc.) that are picked
and/or gathered (i.e., not hunted or fished)
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that are gathered
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
21.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
21.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
21.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• leaves rustling, birds
singing, wind, decay
• mosses, lichens, leaves,
branches
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
21.08 Learning
21.080l"U?at°rSand
Students
611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
21. Forests
Page 73
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
21. FORESTS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
21.0802 Researchers
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
541,611
General Beneficiary Description
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• research opportunities
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
21.09 Non-Use
21 0901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
71 mm People Who Care
^ ' 'UMU^ (Option / Bequest)
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
21. Forests
Page 74
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
22. AGROECOSYSTEMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
FEGS
Examples of FEGS
Importance of FEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
22.01 Agricultural
22.0103 Livestock Grazers
22.0106 Farmers
112
111, 113
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
Farmers may plant annual crops (e.g., corn,
soybeans, rice) or introduce cultivars that produce
perennial, long-term crops (e.g., hay, grapes,
cranberries, watercress, Christmas trees). Note that
Farmers and Irrigators are different beneficiaries.
• soil
• open space
• soil
• open space
• pollinators
• depredators
and (pest)
predators
• suitable soil in which fields of feed (i.e.,
on which livestock will directly graze) can
be grown (NOT feed itself)
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to graze
livestock
• suitable soil in which annual or perennial
crops (NOT crops themselves) can be
grown
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) in which to
grow annual or perennial crops (NOT
crops themselves)
• wild pollinators that provide opportunity
to grow annual or perennial crops
• wild depredators and (pest) predators
that provide opportunity to grow annual or
perennial crops
22.02 Commercial / Industrial
Timber, Fiber, and
Ornamental Extractors
22 0205 Electric and otner
Energy Generators
Resource-Dependent
Businesses
113,339,
424, 453, 454
221
487,712,
713,721,722
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered PEGS.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
• natural
materials
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of erosion, fire, and pest infestation on the
property
22.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
22 0303 Residential Pr°Perty
Owners
531,532,814
While changes in property value are not a FEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of erosion, fire, and pest infestation on the
property
22.06 Recreational
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
22. Agroecosystems
Page 75
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
22. AGROECOSYSTEMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
220601 Experiences and
Viewers
22.0603 Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
•sounds and
scents
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• pheasant, deer, elk, rabbit
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
22.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
22.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
22.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• corn sheaths, dried flowers
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
22.08 Learning
22 0801 Educators and
Students
611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
22. Agroecosystems
Page 76
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
22. AGROECOSYSTEMS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
22.0802 Researchers
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
541,611
General Beneficiary Description
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• research opportunities
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
22.09 Non-Use
220901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
•)•) mm People Who Care
^•UMU^ (Option / Bequest)
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
22. Agroecosystems
Page 77
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
23. CREATED GREENSPACE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
23.02 Commercial / Industrial
-. .-._ Electric and other
zo.uzuo _ _ .
Energy Generators
23 0206 Resource-DePendent
Businesses
221
487,712,
713,721,722
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of pest infestation on the property
23.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
230303ReSidentialPr°perty
Owners
23.0304 Military / Coast Guard
531,532,814
928
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of pest infestation on the property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
23.05 Subsistence
23.0502 Food Subsisters
None
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
• flora
•fungi
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that are hunted or
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
23.06 Recreational
23.0601 5XperienCerSand
Viewers
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• sounds and
scents
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
23. Created Greenspace
Page 78
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
23. CREATED GREENSPACE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
23.0602 Food Pickers and
Gatherers
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
PEGS
• flora
•fungi
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that are gathered
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
23.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
23.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
23.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
23.08 Learning
23.0801 Educators and
Students
23.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
23.09 Non-Use
23.0901 People Who Care
(Existence)
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
23. Created Greenspace
Page 79
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
23. CREATED GREENSPACE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
23 0902 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Option / Bequest)
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
813,924
General Beneficiary Description
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• knowing that the environment exists
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
23. Created Greenspace
Page 80
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
24. GRASSLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
FEGS
Examples of FEGS
Importance of FEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
24.01 Agricultural
24.0103 Livestock Grazers
24.0106 Farmers
112
111
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
Farmers may plant annual crops (e.g., corn,
soybeans, rice) or introduce cultivars that produce
perennial, long-term crops (e.g., hay, grapes,
cranberries, watercress, Christmas trees). Note that
Farmers and Irrigators are different beneficiaries.
• flora
• open space
• soil
• open space
• pollinators
• depredators
and (pest)
predators
• non-cultivated vegetation for livestock
consumption
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to graze
livestock
• suitable soil in which annual or perennial
crops (NOT crops themselves) can be
grown
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) in which to
grow annual or perennial crops (NOT
crops themselves)
• wild pollinators that provide opportunity
to grow annual or perennial crops
• wild depredators and (pest) predators
that provide opportunity to grow crops
24.02 Commercial / Industrial
24.0201 Food Extractors
24.0202 ^imber-^:-"nd(
Ornamental Extractors
240205EleCtriCand°ther
Energy Generators
24 0206 Resource-DePendent
Businesses
113, 114,
311,312,454
113,339,
424, 453, 454
221
487,712,
713,721,722
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered FEGS.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• fiber
• natural
materials
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• berries, tubers
• eggs, duck, buffalo,
grasshoppers
• grasses
• flowers, seeds
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated fiber for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of fire and pest infestation on the property
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
24. Grasslands
Page 81
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
24. GRASSLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Pharmaceutical and
24.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
24.0208 Fur /Hide Trappers
and Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
325, 339, 424
114
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
PEGS
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• sagewort, Ipomoea
leptophylla
•deer antler velvet
• fox, buffalo, wolf, coyotes
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) used in medicines
or sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
24.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
24 0303 Residential Property
Owners
24.0304 Military / Coast Guard
531,532,814
928
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of fire and pest infestation on the property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
24.05 Subsistence
24.0502 Food Subsisters
None
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• rabbit, deer, buffalo, elk,
bison, buffalo
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that are hunted or
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
24. Grasslands
Page 82
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
24. GRASSLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
24 0503 Timber' Fiber' and Fur '
Hide Subsisters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur /hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur /hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
PEGS
• timber
• fiber
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• rabbit, deer, buffalo, elk,
bison, buffalo
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• timber (i.e., trees) used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
24.06 Recreational
240601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
24.0602 Food Pickers and
Gatherers
24.0603 Hunters
None
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• sounds and
scents
• flora
• fauna
•fungi
• fauna
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., insects, some
aquatic organisms, etc.) that are picked
and/or gathered (i.e., not hunted or fished)
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., mushrooms, shelf
fungus, puffballs, etc.) that are gathered
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
24.07 Inspirational
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
24. Grasslands
Page 83
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
24. GRASSLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
24.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
24.0702 Artists
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
24.08 Learning
24.0801 Educators and
Students
24.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
24.09 Non-Use
240901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
•)& mm People Who Care
^4.uau^ (0ptjon ; Beques()
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
24. Grasslands
Page 84
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
25. SCRUBLANDS / SHRUBLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
25.01 Agricultural
25.0102 CAFO Operators
25.0103 Livestock Grazers
112
112
This beneficiary raises large, dense populations of
livestock in a confined area (whether indoors or
outdoors).
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
• open space
• flora
• open space
• grasses
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to hold
livestock and site the CAFO operation
• non-cultivated vegetation for livestock
consumption
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to graze
livestock
25.02 Commercial / Industrial
25.0201 Food Extractors
Timber, Fiber, and
Ornamental Extractors
„, Electric and other
25.0205 ,. _
Energy Generators
25 0206 Resource-DePendent
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
25.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
25.0208 Fur /Hide Trappers
and Hunters
114,311,
312,454
339, 424,
453, 454
221
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
114
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered PEGS.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
• flora
• timber
• fiber
• natural
materials
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
•juniper berries
•juniper trees
• grasses
•juniper, tea tree
• bobcats, coyotes
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated timber (i.e., trees) for
commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated fiber for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of fire and pest infestation on the property
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
25.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
250303ReSidentialPr°perty
Owners
531,532,814
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of fire and pest infestation on the property
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
25. Scrublands / Shrublands
Page 85
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
25. SCRUBLANDS / SHRUBLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
25.0304 Military / Coast Guard
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
928
General Beneficiary Description
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• open space
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
25.04 Commercial / Military Transportation
25.0401 Transporters of Goods
25.0402 Transporters of People
482, 484,
485, 486
482, 484,
485, 487
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
• presence of the
environment
• land
• presence of the
environment
• land
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
25.05 Subsistence
25.0502 Food Subsisters
25 0503 Timber' Fiber' and Fur '
Hide Subsisters
None
None
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur /hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur /hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
• flora
• fauna
• timber
• fiber
• fauna
• rabbit
• grasses, cacti
• rabbit, bobcat
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
• timber (i.e., trees) used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
25.06 Recreational
250601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
• sounds and
scents
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
25. Scrublands / Shrublands
Page 86
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
25. SCRUBLANDS / SHRUBLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
25.0602 Food Pickers and
Gatherers
25.0603 Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
PEGS
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., insects, some
aquatic organisms, etc.) that are picked
and/or gathered (i.e., not hunted or fished)
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
25.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
25.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
25.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
25.08 Learning
25.0801 Educators and
Students
25.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
25.09 Non-Use
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
25. Scrublands / Shrublands
Page 87
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
25. SCRUBLANDS / SHRUBLANDS
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
250901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
7-5 mm People Who Care
^.uau^ (0ptjon ; Beques()
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
813,924
813,924
General Beneficiary Description
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
25. Scrublands / Shrublands
Page 88
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
26. BARREN / ROCK AND SAND
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
26.01 Agricultural
26.0102 CAFO Operators
112
This beneficiary raises large, dense populations of
livestock in a confined area (whether indoors or
outdoors).
• open space
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to hold
livestock and site the CAFO operation
26.02 Commercial / Industrial
Timber, Fiber, and
Ornamental Extractors
260205EleCtriCand°ther
Energy Generators
->c mnc Resource-Dependent
zo.uzuo „
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
26.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
260208Fur/HideTrapperS
and Hunters
339, 424,
453, 454
221
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
114
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered PEGS.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
• natural
materials
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
• shells, driftwood
• cacti, aloe vera
• snake venom
• armadillos, coyotes, snakes
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of erosion, fire, and pest infestation on the
property
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
26.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
260303ReSidentialPr°perty
Owners
26.0304 Military / Coast Guard
531,532,814
928
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of erosion, fire, and pest infestation on the
property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
26.04 Commercial / Military Transportation
26.0401 Transporters of Goods
482, 484,
485, 486
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
• presence of the
environment
• land
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
26. Barren/Rock and Sand
Page 89
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
26. BARREN / ROCK AND SAND
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
26.0402 Transporters of People
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
482, 484,
485, 487
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• land
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
26.06 Recreational
260601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
26.0603 Hunters
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
• sounds and
scents
• fauna
• armadillos, coyotes, snakes
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
26.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
26.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
26.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
26.08 Learning
26.0801 Educators and
Students
611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
26. Barren/Rock and Sand
Page 90
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
26. BARREN / ROCK AND SAND
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
26.0802 Researchers
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
541,611
General Beneficiary Description
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• research opportunities
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
26.09 Non-Use
260901 Pe°PleWhoCare
(Existence)
PR nqnp People Who Care
26.0902 (0ptjon ; Beques()
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
26. Barren/Rock and Sand
Page 91
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
27. TUNDRA
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
FEGS
Examples of FEGS
Importance of FEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
27.01 Agricultural
27.0103 Livestock Grazers
112
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
• flora
• open space
• grasses, sedges
• non-cultivated vegetation for livestock
consumption
• suitable conditions (i.e., land) to graze
livestock
27.02 Commercial / Industrial
27.0201 Food Extractors
27 0202 Timber' Fiber' and
Ornamental Extractors
-_ .-._ Electric and other
z/.uzuo _ _ .
Energy Generators
27 0206 Resource-DePendent
Businesses
Pharmaceutical and
27.0207 Food Supplement
Suppliers
27.0208 Fur /Hide Trappers
and Hunters
114,311,
312,454
114,311,
312,454
221
487,712,
713,721,722
325, 339, 424
114
Food extractors utilize the natural abundance of edible
organisms (i.e., non-cultivated or bred) for commercial
use or sale. Includes commercial and native hunters
(if legal). In aquatic environments, this beneficiary has
potential contact with water.
Timber, fiber, and ornamental extractors rely on the
environment for products used or sold commercially.
Only non-cultivated, renewable material (i.e., NOT oil,
ore, gems, etc.) are considered FEGS.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary collects organisms from the wild that
are used as or for the basis of Pharmaceuticals or
food supplements for commercial sale. This
beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of target
organisms.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
• flora
• fauna
• fiber
• natural
materials
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• flora
• fauna
• fauna
• blueberries, bearberries
• duck, caribou, reindeer
• sphagnum, grasses
• lichens
• lichens, mosses
• [rein]deer antler velvet
• bear, caribou, fox, musk ox,
ptarmigan
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) for
commercial use or sale
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) for commercial use or sale
• non-cultivated fiber for commercial use
or sale
• non-cultivated ornamental products or by-
products (from cultivation) used
ornamentally for commercial use or sale
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of pest infestation on the property
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) or
associated products (i.e., fruit, greens,
tubers, berries, sap) used in medicines or
sold for medicinal purposes
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) or products associated with
organisms (i.e., oils, fats, keratin, etc.)
used in medicines or sold for medicinal
purposes
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
27.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
27 0303 Residential Property
Owners
531,532,814
While changes in property value are not a FEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of pest infestation on the property
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
27. Tundra
Page 92
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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27. TUNDRA
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
27.0304 Military / Coast Guard
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
928
General Beneficiary Description
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• open space
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
27.04 Commercial / Military Transportation
27.0401 Transporters of Goods
27.0402 Transporters of People
482, 484,
485, 486
482, 484,
485, 487
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
• presence of the
environment
• land
• presence of the
environment
• land
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
27.05 Subsistence
27.0502 Food Subsisters
27 0503 Timber' Fiber' and Fur '
Hide Subsisters
None
None
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur /hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur /hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
• flora
• fauna
• timber
• fiber
• fauna
• bear, caribou, fox, musk ox,
ptarmigan
• sedges, grasses
• bear, caribou, fox, musk ox,
ptarmigan
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
gathered for personal use (i.e., not for
sale)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
• timber (i.e., trees) used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
• fiber used for clothing/warmth,
infrastructure, housing, roofing, and/or fuel
for personal use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
27.06 Recreational
270601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• flora
• fauna
• sounds and
scents
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., flowers, plants, etc.) that
can be viewed
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
27. Tundra
Page 93
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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27. TUNDRA
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
27.0602 Food Pickers and
Gatherers
27.0603 Hunters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary recreationally picks or gathers from
the natural abundance of [edible] flora, fungi, and
some fauna (as long as it is not fished or hunted).
This beneficiary has potential contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
PEGS
• flora
• fauna
Examples of PEGS
• bear, caribou, fox, musk ox,
ptarmigan
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• edible organisms (i.e., flowers, plants,
etc.) or associated products (i.e., fruit,
greens, tubers, berries, sap) that are
picked and/or gathered for personal use
(i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
27.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
27.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
27.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
27.08 Learning
27.0801 Educators and
Students
27.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
27.09 Non-Use
270901 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Existence)
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
27. Tundra
Page 94
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
27. TUNDRA
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
27 0902 Pe°ple Wh° Care
(Option / Bequest)
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
813,924
General Beneficiary Description
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• knowing that the environment exists
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
27. Tundra
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DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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28. ICE AND SNOW
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
28.02 Commercial / Industrial
280206ReSOUrCe-Dependent
Businesses
280208Fur/HideTrapperS
and Hunters
487,712,
713,721,722
114
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
This beneficiary takes advantage of the natural
abundance of fauna (i.e., not farm-raised or
domesticated animals) for fur or hides for commercial
use or sale.
• presence of the
environment
• fauna
• arctic fox, wolverines, bears
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of avalanches on the property
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides for commercial
use or sale
28.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
280303ReSidentialPr°perty
Owners
28.0304 Military / Coast Guard
531,532,814
928
While changes in property value are not a PEGS,
residential property owners are affected by the
environment in which their property resides.
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure and reduced/increased risk
of avalanches on the property
• opportunity for placement of
infrastructure
• suitable conditions for training activities
28.04 Commercial / Military Transportation
28.0401 Transporters of Goods
28.0402 Transporters of People
482, 484,
485, 486
482, 484,
485, 487
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
• presence of the
environment
• land
• presence of the
environment
• land
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
28.05 Subsistence
28.0501 Water Subsisters
28.0502 Food Subsisters
28 0503 Timber' Fiber' and Fur '
Hide Subsisters
None
None
None
Water Subsisters rely on a natural source for drinking
water and may use wells or cisterns for storage (i. e. ,
they do not receive municipal drinking water). Water
purity is important, as water is not or only minimally
treated.
Food Subsisters use the natural abundance of [edible]
flora, fungi, and fauna whether collecting, hunting, or
fishing as a major supplement to their existence.
This beneficiary relies on the natural abundance of
timber, fiber, and [fauna for] fur /hide for survival.
Timber, fiber, and fur /hide used for building material
is accounted for in this category.
•water
• fauna
• fauna
• caribou, yak, fox, polar
bears
• caribou, yak, fox, polar
bears
• water (from melting snow and ice)
suitable for drinking (i.e., human
consumption)
• edible organisms (i.e., birds, mammals,
reptiles, etc.) that are hunted for personal
use (i.e., not for sale)
• organisms (i.e., mammals and reptiles)
that provide fur or hides used for
clothing/warmth, infrastructure, housing,
roofing, and/or fuel for personal use (i.e.,
not for sale)
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
28. Ice and Snow
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DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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28. ICE AND SNOW
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
280504BuildingMaterial
Subsisters
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
None
General Beneficiary Description
This beneficiary relies on the environment to provide
renewable, non-cellular material (primarily snow and
ice) used for infrastructure and housing for personal
use (i. e., not for commercial sale).
PEGS
• substrate
Examples of PEGS
•snow and ice
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• renewable, non-cellular material used for
infrastructure, housing, and roofing (i.e.,
not for sale)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
28.06 Recreational
280601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
28.0603 Hunters
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
This beneficiary is primarily interested in hunting
mammals and fowl (not flora or fungi) recreationally
(i.e., not for survival). In aquatic environments, this
beneficiary has potential contact with water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• fauna
•sounds and
scents
• fauna
• caribou, yak, fox, polar
bears
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• organisms (i.e., birds, mammals, reptiles,
etc.) that can be hunted
28.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
28.0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
28.0702 Artists
813
339, 423,
424,512,711
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
• natural
materials
• ice cracking
• ice
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• landscape that provides a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
• natural materials that provide a sensory
experience [which may lead to the benefic
of inspiration for art] or can be directly
used in art (e.g., sculpture, mixed media
paintings, etc.)
28.08 Learning
28.0801 Educators and
Students
611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
28. Ice and Snow
Page 97
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
28. ICE AND SNOW
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
28.0802 Researchers
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
541,611
General Beneficiary Description
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• research opportunities
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
28.09 Non-Use
280901 Pe°PleWhoCare
(Existence)
PR nqnp People Who Care
28.0902 (0ptjon ; Beques()
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
28. Ice and Snow
Page 98
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
31. ATMOSPHERE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
31.01 Agricultural
31.0102 CAFO Operators
31.0103 Livestock Grazers
31.0106 Farmers
31.0107 Foresters
112
112
111, 113
113
This beneficiary raises large, dense populations of
livestock in a confined area (whether indoors or
outdoors).
This beneficiary uses the environment to graze
livestock. Cultivated vegetation is NOT considered a
PEGS. For agroecosystems, "planted" pastures only
provide space and opportunity to grow feed (not the
vegetation itself).
Farmers may plant annual crops (e.g., corn,
soybeans, rice) or introduce cultivars that produce
perennial, long-term crops (e.g., hay, grapes,
cranberries, watercress, Christmas trees). Note that
Farmers and Irrigators are different beneficiaries.
Foresters introduce tree cultivars and nurture those
cultivars as they grow into trees, which are harvested.
The rotation for the tree crops may be as short as 10
years or many decades.
•water
• presence of the
environment
•air
• weather
• weather
•water
• weather
•water
• weather
• water (via precipitation) for livestock
consumption
• opportunity to discharge odors into the
environment
• medium for and capacity to dissipate
odors produced by [dense herds of]
livestock
• for outdoor CAFOs, suitable atmospheric
conditions [in temperature, precipitation, or
wind] for livestock survival
• for outdoor CAFOs, suitable atmospheric
conditions [in temperature, precipitation, or
wind] for livestock survival
• water (via precipitation) for crops
• suitable atmospheric conditions [in
temperature, precipitation, or wind] for
farming activities
• water (via precipitation) for trees
• suitable atmospheric conditions [in
temperature, precipitation, or wind] for
forestry activities
31 .02 Commercial / Industrial
31 0203 Residential Pr°Perty
Owners
31 .0204 Industrial Dischargers
•si mnc Electric and other
O 1 .UZUO _ _ .
Energy Generators
-2-1 mnc Resource-Dependent
o 1 .UZUO _
Businesses
531,532,814
211,212,
221,311-339
221
487,712,
713,721,722
This beneficiary primarily consumes water for cooling,
producing pulp, etc. The water has no contact with
edibles.
Industrial dischargers use the environment [only] for
discharging water, material (i.e., sand and gravel,
garbage), and emissions. Hydraulic tracking practices
involve industrial discharge to groundwater.
This beneficiary relies on the environment for energy
or placement of power generation structures, including
dams, wind, water, or wave turbines, solar panels,
geothermal systems, etc.
Without the environment, this beneficiary would not
have the opportunity for businesses, including
marinas, stables, and ecotourism (e.g., rafting
companies, hot air balloon companies, beach resorts,
hot springs, ice hotels) - but not farm or forest land.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
•air
• presence of the
environment
•wind
• presence of the
environment
• weather
• air
• reduced/increased risk of damage of the
property, for example, by lightning strikes
• opportunity to discharge into the
environment
• medium for receiving industrial discharge
• opportunity to install power generation
structures
• suitable wind speeds for power
generation
• reduced/increased risk of damage of the
property, for example, by lightning strikes
• suitable atmospheric conditions [in
temperature, precipitation, or wind] for
establishing and maintaining property
• suitable [clean /clear] air for establishing
and maintaining property, and the
opportunity for viewscapes
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
31. Atmosphere
Page 99
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
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-------
31. ATMOSPHERE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
General Beneficiary Description
PEGS
Examples of PEGS
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
31.03 Government, Municipal, and Residential
31.0304 Military /Coast Guard
928
The Military/ Coast Guard relies on the environment
for the placement of infrastructure (e.g., ports, bases,
etc.) or conditions for training activities.
• presence of the
environment
• open space
• opportunity for training activities
• suitable conditions for training activities
31 .04 Commercial / Military Transportation
31 .0401 Transporters of Goods
31 .0402 Transporters of People
481
481 , 487
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport goods - specifically, via boats (e.g., barges),
airplanes, and overland/off-road vehicles (e.g.,
quads).
This beneficiary uses the environment as a media to
transport people - specifically, via boats (e.g., cruise
liners, ferries, tour boats), airplanes, and overland/off-
road vehicles.
• presence of the
environment
• air
• presence of the
environment
• air
• opportunity for the transportation of
goods
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of goods
• opportunity for the transportation of
people
• medium for and conditions that support
the transportation of people
31.05 Subsistence
31 .0501 Water Subsisters
None
Water Subsisters rely on a natural source for drinking
water and may use wells or cisterns for storage (i. e. ,
they do not receive municipal drinking water). Water
purity is important, as water is not or only minimally
treated.
•water
• water (from precipitation) suitable for
drinking (i.e., human consumption),
specifically via cisterns
31.06 Recreational
31 0601 ExPeriencers and
Viewers
31 .0606 Boaters
None
None
This beneficiary views and experiences the
environment via an activity, such as scenery gazing,
hiking, bird watching, botanizing, ice skating, rock
climbing, flying kites, etc. This beneficiary does not
have physical contact with water.
Boaters may use motorized (i. e., motor boats) or non-
motorized boats (i.e., canoes, kayaks, rafts) to
recreate. This beneficiary has potential contact with
water.
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
• fauna
• atmospheric
phenomena
• sounds and
scents
•air
•wind
•wind
• clouds, sunsets
• opportunity to view the environment and
organisms within it, and atmospheric
phenomena
• sky that provides a sensory experience
• organisms (specifically, birds) that can
be viewed
• atmospheric phenomena that can be
viewed
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience
• suitable [clean / clear] air for visibility
• wind for wind-dependent sports and
recreation
• opportunity and conditions provided by
wind for recreational [sailjboating
31.07 Inspirational
Spiritual and
Ceremonial
31 .0701 Participants and
Participants of
Celebration
813
This beneficiary uses the environment for spiritual,
ceremonial, or celebratory purposes, such as harvest
festivals, seafood festivals, Native American
observances, religious rites (i.e., baptisms, weddings),
personal growth, etc.
• presence of the
environment
• opportunity and conditions for spiritual
and ceremonial practices and celebrations
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
31. Atmosphere
Page 100
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
-------
31. ATMOSPHERE
Beneficiary Categories
and Sub-Categories
31 .0702 Artists
Potentially
Relevant
NAICS
Code(s)
512,711
General Beneficiary Description
Artists, amateur and professional, utilize the
environment or their experience in the environment to
produce art. This category may include writers,
cinematographers, and recording artist among others.
PEGS
• presence of the
environment
• viewscapes
•sounds and
scents
Examples of PEGS
• thunder, wind blowing
Importance of PEGS to the
Beneficiary
• opportunity for a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefit of
inspiration for art]
• sky that provides a sensory experience
[which may lead to the benefic of
inspiration for art] or can be directly used
in art (e.g., films, soundtracks, etc.)
• sounds and scents that provide a
sensory experience [which may lead to the
benefic of inspiration for art] or can be
directly used in art (e.g., films,
soundtracks, etc.)
Potential Metric(s)
and/or Indicator(s)
31.08 Learning
31.080l"U?at°rSand
Students
31.0802 Researchers
611
541,611
This beneficiary includes both formal and self-taught
educators and students. All parts of the environment
are of interest.
Researchers are interested in the environment for
academic and applied purposes and as a group do not
discriminate over which parts of the environment are
of interest.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• opportunities to understand,
communicate, and educate
• research opportunities
31.09 Non-Use
31.090l[;e0p'e™oCare
(Existence)
TI nqn? People Who Care
J ' 'UMU^ (Option / Bequest)
813,924
813,924
This non-use beneficiary believes it is important to
preserve the environment because of a moral/ethical
connection or for fear of unintended consequences.
Option/Bequest non-use beneficiaries consider that
they or future generations may visit or rely on the
environment. This includes beneficiaries that value
the traditional aspects or features of an activity or
PEGS.
• presence of the
environment
• presence of the
environment
• knowing that the environment exists
• knowing that the environment exists
31.10 Humanity
31.1001 All Humans
None
All humans includes everyone, regardless of whether
they actively recognize or appreciate the PEGS,
because the PEGS are available to everyone and
used by everyone to live.
• air
• suitable [healthful] air to breathe
FEGS-CS(V.1.8)
31. Atmosphere
Page 101
DH Landers and AM Nahlik (2013)
contact landers.dixon@epa.gov or nahlik.amanda@epa.gov for more information
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