The study aims at determining the economic benefits of fundamental forest ecosystem services (FES) in Germany from a demand perspective, at identifying their regional distribution, and at merging the respective benefit estimates into a consistent model which provides for scenario analyses of alternative forest utilisation options. Specifically, we consider the monetary benefits of raw wood production as a FES, of global climate protection (via carbon sequestration), of everyday recreation for the population, and of services for nature protection and landscape amenity, which accrue in the course of regular forest management as well as due to the establishment of separate protection areas. For this purpose, we combine available valuation data, information from official regional statistics, and an additional primary study, to identify regional specific drivers of the FES’ monetary benefits and to derive generic valuation functions for each of the services. Using a Geographical Information System, these valuation functions are then applied to the conditions in the Local Administrative Units (municipalities), resulting in Benefit Function Transfer estimates for each service and each municipality. Afterwards, results are aggregated to NUTS-3 level (counties) and mapped. Subsequently we simulate the consequences of modified regional conditions (e.g., modified forest management) for FES values and their relations, by appropriately changing the input data
