A range of studies have shown that pollination makes a very significant contribution to the agricultural production of a broad range of crops, in particular fruits, vegetables, fiber crops and nuts (e.g. Levin, 1984; Costanza et al., 1997; Gordon and
Davis, 2003). For instance, the value provided by the pollination service with respect to US agriculture alone is estimated at between US$ 6 and 14 billion per year (Southwick and Southwick, 1992; Morse and Calderone, 2000). However, estimates for the economic value of the pollination service vary widely (e.g. Richards, 1993; Costanza et al., 1997), and there is an urgent need for a review of potential valuation methods and an analysis of the experiences with the valuation of the pollination service to date.
