Brief: Aarhus Living Lab – welfare economic assessment of large-scale nature restoration. Deep dive case.

This brief presents the results of a social cost-benefit analysis of a large scale nature restoration plan in the Municipality of Aarhus in Denmark. A total of 11 Water- & Nature Parks are planned that would more than double nature areas. In this brief, one of the 11 parks, the Aarhus River Valley Water- & Naturepark is assessed economically in terms of: Surface water quality improvement Groundwater protection Improved recreation opportunities Enhanced amenity values Carbon sequestration Implementation and operational costs Results show for the Aarhus River Valley Water- & Nature park that for every euro invested, society gains 4.15 euros.