Appraisal of Forest Ecosystems Goods and Services: Challenges and Opportunities for Conservation
T. V.Ramachandra1, 2, 3,  Divya Soman1  Ashwath D. Naik1  M. D. Subash Chandran1  
1Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES)
2 Centre for Sustainable Technologies (ASTRA)
3Centre for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CiSTUP) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, Karnataka, India
Telephone: 91-80-23600985, 22932506, 22933099, Fax: 91-80-23601428, 23600085, 23600683
*Corresponding Author: tvr@iisc.ac.in,energy.ces@iisc.ac.in

Abstract

Valuation of ecosystem goods and services is essential to formulate sustainable development policies oriented towards the protection or restoration of ecosystems. The present study estimates the value of forest ecosystem of Uttara Kannada district by market price method. The total value of provisioning goods and services from the forests of Uttara Kannada district was estimated at Rs. 15,171 crores per year, which amounts to about Rs. 2 lakh per hectare per year. The study highlights the undervaluation of forest goods and services that is evident when the estimated total economic value of forest and the value of forest resources calculated in national income accounting framework are compared. The quantification of all benefits associated with the forest ecosystem goods and services would help in arriving at an appropriate policy and managerial decisions to ensure conservation while opting sustainable development path.

Keywords Economic Valuation. Provisioning Services. Regulating Services. Tropical Forests

 

 

Citation :Ramachandra T. V, Divya Soman, Ashwath D Naik, Subash Chandran M D, 2017. Appraisal of Forest Ecosystems Goods and Services: Challenges and Opportunities for Conservation, Journal of biodiversity, 8(1):61-78
* Corresponding Author :
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra
Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560 012, India.
Tel : +91-80-2293 3099/2293 3503 [extn - 107],      Fax : 91-80-23601428 / 23600085 / 23600683 [CES-TVR]
E-mail :tvr@iisc.ac.in , emram.ces@courses.iisc.ac.in, energy.ces@iisc.ac.in,     Web : http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/grass
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