The manual is divided into four main chapters. First, a brief introduction into the objectives and the principles of Natura 2000 is given for those readers who are not familiar with this European network of protected areas (Chapter 2). The following chapter explains the concepts of costs and benefi ts, and unfolds typologies of those costs and benefi ts that are relevant to nature conservation (Chapter 3). Then the methods for valuating costs and benefi ts are explained. This chapter starts with systematization before giving recommendations for choosing a specifi c method (Chapter 4). The fi nal chapter includes more detailed descriptions of the three of the most important measures: Contingent Valuation, Travel Cost Method and a combination of methods for measuring economic effects of protected areas on tourism (Chapter 5). The annex includes a case study on how to formulate terms of reference for an economic evaluation of a nature conservation project. The project is the removal of a dam in the Salaca River near the town of Staicele. This measure is part of the management plan for the future Natura 2000 site the “Salaca River Valley” in the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve. The file for downloading:
