In this paper, examples of how soil ES can be classified and valued economically are highlighted with the purpose of integrating the economic value of soil ES into land-use decision-making processes. A Preferences-based approach to valuation is therefore opted for as opposed to Biophysical approach (for a detailed discussion on valuation of ES see chapter 5 of Kumar, 2010).
In Preferences-based approaches, which are common in economics, valuation is always based on anthropocentric values, i.e. the value to humans. Such values are split into two categories: use and non-use values ( Fig. 1). Use values are divided into three categories: direct use values; indirect use values; and option values. Direct use values can be consumptive or non-consumptive. Examples of consumptive use values include the value of agricultural products from provisioning services and non-consumptive values include the value linked to the recreational experience that are a cultural service. Indirect use values include values linked to regulation services like flood mitigation or biological control of pests and diseases.