FEMA recognizes the natural environment is an important component of a community’s resilience strategy. The Ecosystem Service Benefits in Benefit-Cost Analysis for FEMA’s Mitigation Program Policy reduces the complexity of Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants by removing the limitation on ecosystem service benefits allowing them to be included in mitigation projects regardless of the value.
Ecosystem services is a term used to describe all of the benefits that we get from the environment — everything from air, food, and water to the enjoyment of nature and natural resources. This policy will allow more communities to be able to accrue benefits occurring from ecosystem services into their projects.
Communities are encouraged to look beyond FEMA and use a wide range of public and private funding to support nature-based solutions.
