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The Conversation
The Conversation
Stefan Lovgren, Research scientist College of Science, University of Nevada, Reno

How much is the world's most productive river worth? Here's how experts estimate the value of nature

Establishing the financial worth of a river's fish is complicated when many people don't sell the fish they catch. Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP via Getty Images

Southeast Asia’s Mekong may be the most important river in the world. Known as the “mother of waters,” it is home to the world’s largest inland fishery, and the huge amounts of sediments it transports feed some of the planet’s most fertile farmlands. Tens of millions of people depend on it for their livelihoods.

But how valuable is it in monetary terms? Is it possible to put a dollar value on the multitude of ecosystem services it provides, to help keep those services healthy into the future?

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