Abstract

Valuation through the quantification goods and services aids in the wise use and prudent management of an estuarine ecosystem. The present study focusses on the valuation of goods and services from an estuary at Aghanashini, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. The provisioning services provided by this estuary is about 11,35,847 Rs/hectare/year, which highlights the significance of an estuarine ecosystem in sustaining livelihood of 6000 - 7500 families. The total economic value (provisioning, regulating, supporting and information services) of Aghanashini is 5 million Rs/hectare/year. This highlights the contributions by estuarine ecosystems in sustaining the economy of the district while supporting people’s livelihood. Quantification of ecosystem benefits would help in evolving appropriate strategies with the managerial decisions. This also emphasizes the need for green GDP (Gross domestic product) through incorporation of values of the natural goods in the national and regional accounting to ensure the sustainability of natural resources (water, energy, land, etc.). In the absence of such accounting, decisions favor environmentally degrading practices by disregarding the societal benefits from the goods and services values of fragile ecosystems