TESSA is a PDF-based tool that evaluates the benefits of ecosystem services and natural capital for an individual site, as opposed to other tools that are more applicable at scale. It also allows users to compare estimates of potential land-use changes to reveal the consequences to people and nature and help communicate the value of nature to decision-makers. TESSA currently features methods to measure the value of soil, water, and biodiversity as well as many other benefits including climate regulation, water quality, flood protection, harvested goods, and nature-based recreation. While relatively easy to use for a non-expert and requiring less time and financial investment than other ecosystem valuation tools, this tool does require some training in environmental science and requires an estimated minimum of 3 months of person time to conduct an analysis. Inputs vary by site and the ecosystem services being evaluated. Training on natural capital and ecosystem services is also provided.
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