There is now an established interest and a clear case for using economic valuation of ecosystem services to inform a range of policy issues and questions. However, access to both habitat data and economic valuation for less developed countries is limited, despite these communities relying acutely and directly on ecosystem services. Here we set out an ecosystem assessment methodology that employs GIS data and benefit transfer studies, which can be carried out remotely and rapidly and at multiple scales. We use two case studies: Vanuatu, in the south west Pacific Ocean and one of its less developed islands, Tanna. These case studies reveal the value of ecosystem services to communities is considerably larger than income reported through traditional national accounts, suggesting that policies that support sustainable exploitation of these services and conservation of natural capital are paramount in securing human and community well-being.