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InVEST

Model and value the ecosystem services nature provides to cities

Addresses
Green Infrastructure
Cost
Free · Open-source
Open-Source
Difficulty
Advanced
Language
Python
Updated
2024

You provide

  • Land-cover and land-use maps
  • Biophysical and climate parameters
  • Optional economic valuation tables

You get

  • Ecosystem-service supply maps (e.g. urban cooling, stormwater retention)
  • Carbon storage and sequestration estimates
  • Monetary valuation of services

Overview

InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs), from the Natural Capital Project at Stanford, is a suite of free, open-source models that map and value the benefits nature provides. Its Urban Cooling and Urban Flood Risk Mitigation models are used directly in city green-infrastructure planning.

Key features

  • Dedicated urban models for heat mitigation and stormwater retention
  • Terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and coastal service models
  • Available as a desktop Workbench or the natcap.invest Python package

Who it’s for

Analysts and researchers quantifying the value of parks, trees, and green infrastructure to justify investment.

Getting started

Download the InVEST Workbench from the Natural Capital Project or install the Python package from the GitHub repository.

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