Perceived importance and economic valuation of ecosystem services in Ghodaghodi wetland of Nepal
Article
Article Title | Perceived importance and economic valuation of ecosystem services in Ghodaghodi wetland of Nepal |
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ERA Journal ID | 21007 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Aryal, Kishor (Author), Ojha, Bhuwan Raj (Author) and Maraseni, Tek (Author) |
Journal Title | Land Use Policy: the international journal covering all aspects of land use |
Journal Citation | 106, pp. 1-12 |
Article Number | 105450 |
Number of Pages | 12 |
Year | 2021 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | United kingdom |
ISSN | 0264-8377 |
1873-5754 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105450 |
Abstract | Being the most productive ecosystem on earth, wetlands provide basic as well as critical ecosystem services to humans and other living beings. However, the wetland resources are constantly being degraded because of poor understanding of its importance at local level and the lack of recognition of their economic value at sub-national and national levels. Using a case study of a Ramsar Convention site of Nepal - Ghodaghodi Wetland area―this paper identifies ecosystem services of the wetland based on its perceived importance at local level, and assessed its use and non-use values through total economic valuation method. We have employed literature review and participatory research tools (i.e., key informant interviews, household survey and field observation) for data collection. Based on priority ranking analysis, we found that ten major ecosystem services provided by the wetland, forest products being ranked as the most important followed by edible foods and tourism. Local people ranked (active) use value as the highest priority because the wetland is a complex of lake clusters with surrounding forests of the tropical region, providing the most needed provisioning services to local communities. As of the present evaluation of ecosystem services, the annual net economic return from Ghodaghodi wetland is estimated at 0.67 million US dollars, use value comprising 96% of the total. Having discussed the linkages and relations between (1) people’s preferences and economic value and (2) use value and non-use values, we have suggested much needed policy interventions and future pathways of research for minimizing tradeoffs between provisioning and other ecosystem services, and for the precautionary interventions to sustain (active) use value while maintaining the integrity of ecosystem health. |
Keywords | economic valuation; ecosystem services; Ghodaghodi wetland; people’s priority; willingness to pay |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 410404. Environmental management |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests and Environment, Nepal | |
Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal | |
Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q64y9/perceived-importance-and-economic-valuation-of-ecosystem-services-in-ghodaghodi-wetland-of-nepal
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