Conclusion

Ecological systems goods and services play a fundamental role in supporting life and sustaining the economy. Valuation of the ecosystem goods and services has become critical to formulate prudent policies for the sustenance of natural resources. The present study provides an account of the resource potential of Aghanashini estuary of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state, India. Aghanashini estuary is the highly productive ecosystem evident form the total economic valuation of estuarine ecosystem with the total value of 24.03 billion Rs/year and the annual productivity of 5 million Rs/hectare/year. Provisioning service makes up the 23% of the total value. Information service share is about 2%, while regulating and supporting services are respectively 37% and 39%.

This highlights that estuaries of Uttara Kannada have been sustaining the economy of the district in a significant manner with the job potential and people’s livelihood. Decline in the environmental quality of these ecosystems necessitates the concerted effort to conserve the estuary in a sustainable manner with the active participation of native people. This also emphasizes the need for green GDP (Gross domestic product) with the accounting of ecosystem goods and services to ensure the sustainability of natural resources (water, energy, land, etc.).