When adequate valuation studies are not available from a comparable context in order to estimate the value of natural capital at a particular location, it may be necessary to conduct primary economic studies based at the site. In fact, even when valuation studies are available from a comparable site, it is generally preferable to do an original study because no "transferred" study is going to be as accurate and applicable for that site as an original "site-based" study.

EVG uses a range of tools for this, including:

• hedonic analysis
• travel cost analysis
• contingent valuation
• group valuation