A society's well-being is intimately linked to the health of its ecosystems. Healthy ecosystems provide ecological services such as water purification, flood protection, reduced soil erosion, terrestrial carbon sequestration, surface and ground water protection from contamination, wildlife habitat, a diverse growth of vegetation, pollination, recreation, aesthetic satisfaction, and control of diseases and pests. Creation of a functioning ecosystem from a contaminated site removes stigma in a community and yields an aesthetically pleasing asset.

Many of the ecosystem services also prevent the need for future, costly cleanup or remediation. Property values and tax revenues can increase at sites where ecological revitalization has occurred (for examples, see www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/pdf/method.pdf). ...

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