Economic Evaluation of Ecosystem Services of Tamsui Mangrove
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Huang, Xing-Xing
Abstract
Mangrove is highly productive wetland ecosystems located at the interface between land and sea, playing an important role in the biogeochemical cycles of the coastal environment, acting as sources of nutrients to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It has significant direct and indirect economic, ecological and social values to human being. Economic evaluation of mangrove ecosystem is important for its protection and utilizing. Based on the valuation of global ecosystem services by Costanza and Common International Classification for Ecosystem Services, this article discusse the merits and shortcomings of the methods system of valuation. Using market and non-market valuation methods to assess ecosystem services of mangrove of Damsui river. The results showed that the total value of Damsui mangrove was 23.9 billion (148 million per hectare). The direct-use value was 328 million, accounting for 1.37% of total value; the indirect-use value was 23.6 billion, accounting for 98.63%. The results indicate that the indirect-use value of mangroves exceeds direct use values. The highest proportion were water purification (54.17%) and climate regulation (42.37%). This study provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of mangrove ecosystems to the livelihoods of the local people and the urgent need to sustain these through proper policy and market interventions. However, because of the limitations of evaluation methods and index, the results may show the deviation from the true value. This can be correct by optimization of methods and index.
Subjects
ecosystem services
mangrove ecosystem
valuation
Type
thesis