Valuation of Ecosystem Services from an Important Wetland of Nepal: A Study from Begnas Watershed System
- PDF / 593,451 Bytes
- 13 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 70 Downloads / 167 Views
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF WETLANDS
Valuation of Ecosystem Services from an Important Wetland of Nepal: A Study from Begnas Watershed System Shivaraj Thapa 1 & Lanhui Wang 1 & Anil Koirala 2 & Subina Shrestha 1 & Suman Bhattarai 3 & Wai Nyein Aye 1 Received: 14 November 2019 / Accepted: 14 April 2020 # Society of Wetland Scientists 2020
Abstract Determining the economic value of wetlands is essential while creating sustainable wetland development plans and market-based ecological protection strategies. This paper studies the value of Begnas Watershed System by assessing the economic values of its selective ecosystem servicees. We conducted household surveys, multiple focus group discussions, stakeholder consultation, indepth interviews and used a combination of market and non-market based valuation methods like market price method, travel cost method, revealved price method, contingent valuation method, and benefit transfer method to determine the value of ecosystem services of the Begnas Watershed System. This study discovered that the economic benefit generated from the wetland was worth US 3.91 million per year, equivalent to US 650.67 per household and US$ 799.79 per hectare. The direct nonconsumptive (recreational) service was the most beneficial service holding about 85% of the total value. This research study concludes that the Begnas Watershed System is economically beneficial for the local communities living in or close to the watershed and is worth the investment in lake restoration projects. This results from this study will serve as an important tool for policymakers and stakeholders during the formulation of management plans for the wetland's sustainability. Keywords Economic valuation . Ecosystem services . Watershed . Wetland conservation
Introduction Wetlands are versatile ecosystems that provide ecosystem services necessary for the social and economic wellbeing of the local communities living near or around wetlands (Maltby 2006; Mwakubo and Obare 2009; Roy et al. 2012). Wetland goods and services can be valued in quantitative and monitory form regardless of the availability of it’s market price. The wetland quantified value can then be compared with other sectors of the economy for planning, policy formulation and
* Shivaraj Thapa [email protected] Lanhui Wang [email protected] 1
School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Tsinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
2
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
3
Institute of Forestry Pokhara, Tribhuvan University, Hariyo Kharkha, Pokhara-15, Nepal
decisions making (Barbier et al. 1997; Brouwer et al. 2003; Adekola et al. 2015). Wetlands are biologically diverse and are known to support more than 20,000 waterfowl covering the area of 743,563 ha, which represents 5% landmass of Nepal (MFSC 2014). Among wetlands of Nepal, ten sites are designated as wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites) holding a surface area of 60, 561 ha (Ramsar 20
Data Loading...
