Non-market economic valuation of the benefits provided by temperate ecosystems at the extreme south of the Americas

The island of Navarino, Chile, located at the extreme southern end of the Americas, is one of the few regions in the world with undivided and only slightly transformed temperate forests. Currently, fundamental issues are being addressed, such as how local fuel wood demands will be met without destroying primary forests and how a sustainable tourism industry may be developed. This study aims to inform these planning processes by providing data on the economic valuation of several non-market benefits provided by the temperate ecosystems of Navarino Island that have relevance to the local population. We focus this valuation on landscape esthetics, nature access restrictions, esthetic and ethno-symbolic benefits at the species level and the existence value of non-vascular endemic species. A choice experiment was applied to a sample of local residents (n = 230). Decisions about future development strategies were influenced by landscape esthetics being threatened by progressing levels of tourist infrastructure, nature access restrictions in favor of both economic and conservationist concerns, continued visits of an ethno-culturally important hummingbird, the protection of a moss endemic to the sub-Antarctic forests and species diversity. From a non-market valuation perspective, local residents favor a low-impact tourism development scenario. Little is known about the monetary value of Chile’s temperate forests. Knowledge of the economic value of Navarino’s temperate forests facilitates the understanding of local natural resource management at the microlevel and assists in formulating conservation policies at the regional and national levels.     

Application of the ERICA Integrated Approach to the Drigg coastal sand dunes

The EC-funded project 'Environmental Risks from Ionising Contaminants: Assessment and Management' (ERICA) developed an 'Integrated Approach' for assessing the impact of ionising radiation on ecosystems. This paper presents the application of the ERICA Integrated Approach, supported by a software programme (the ERICA Tool) and guidance documentation, to an assessment of the Drigg coastal sand dunes (Cumbria, UK). Targeted sampling provided site-specific data for sand dune biota, including amphibians and reptiles. Radionuclides reported included (90)Sr, (99)Tc, (137)Cs, (238)Pu, (239+240)Pu and (241)Am. Site-specific data were compared to predictions derived using the ERICA Tool. Some under- and over-predictions of biota activity concentrations were identified but can be explained by the specific ecological characteristics and contamination mechanism of the dunes. Overall, the results indicated no significant impact of ionising radiation on the sand dune biota and the Integrated Approach was found to be a flexible and effective means of conducting a radiation impact assessment.     

The application of the contingent valuation method in estimating the climate change mitigation and adaptation policies in Greece. An expert-based approach

When dealing with the ecological, social and economic impacts of climate change, it is important for each country to formulate and implement mitigation and adaptation measures. In this context, the present paper examines the application of the contingent valuation method (CVM) for the monetary estimation of the Greek national mitigation and adaptation climate change costs. To this purpose, the CVM in this case study has been applied to the Greek climate change experts only as, theoretically, they represent the most informed part of Greek society in technical and economic aspects of the climate change. Therefore, the findings of this paper express strictly the opinions of the national experts and are not representative of the general population. The monetary estimates include the experts’ WTP for mitigation and adaptation measures as well as their preferences on that percentage of the national GDP that should be funding such measures at the present as well as the future time-scale. In addition, questions concerning the political and institutional climate change settings are included in the survey, providing a more comprehensive socioeconomic analysis in this particular study.     

China's coastal wetlands: Conservation history,implementation efforts,existing issues and strategies for future improvement

China has approximately 5.80 × 10⁶ ha coastal wetlands by 2014, accounting for 10.82% of the total area of natural wetlands. Healthy coastal wetland ecosystems play an important role in guaranteeing the territory ecological security and the sustainable development of coastal zone in China. In this paper, the natural geography and the past and present status of China's coastal wetlands were introduced and the five stages (1950s–1970s, 1980s–1991, 1992–2002, 2003–2010 and 2011–present) of China's coastal wetlands conservation from the foundation of the People's Republic in 1949 to present were distinguished and reviewed. Over the past decades, China has made great efforts in coastal wetland conservation, as signified by the implementation of coastal wetland restoration projects, the construction of coastal wetland nature reserves, the practice of routine ecological monitoring and two national wetland surveys, the promulgation of local wetland conservation statutes and specific regulations, the coordination mechanism to enhance management capacity, the wide development of coastal wetland research and public participation, and the extensive communication to strengthen international cooperation. Nonetheless, six major issues recently emerged in China's coastal wetland conservation are evidently existed, including the increasing threats of pollution and human activities, the increasing adverse effects of threaten factors on ecosystem function, the increasing threats of coastal erosion and sea-level rising, the insufficient funding for coastal wetlands conservation, the imperfect legal and management system for coastal wetlands, and the insufficient education, research and international cooperation. Although the threats and pressures on coastal wetlands conservation are still apparent, the future of China's coastal wetlands looks promising since the Chinese government understands that the sustainable development in coastal zone requires new attitudes, sound policies and concerted efforts at all levels. The major strategies for future improvement of China's coastal wetland conservation include: exploring effective measures in response to major threaten factors; improving the conservation and compensation system for coastal wetlands; strengthening coastal wetland legislation and management; increasing funds for coastal wetland conservation and research; and strengthening coastal wetland education and international cooperation.     

Estimating Ecological Value of Small Hydropower Using Contingent Valuation Method:An Application to Tongjiqiao Reservoir in Zhejiang Province,China

The small hydropower(SHP) will be less competitive in the absence of environmental value.The lack of information has become an important obstacle challenging decision-makers in resource-use choices.This paper is an application of contingent valuation method(CVM) in rural China to estimate the willingness-to-pay(WTP) for environmental services provided by exiting hydropower station.Using the single-bounded and dichotomouschoice CVM,the ecological value of Tongjiqiao Reservoir(TJQR) is estimated,and the annual mean WTPs of single-bounded and double-bounded CVM estimation are 141.05 and 219.52 Yuan(RMB)/a,respectively.The 95% confidence interval of annual WTP on an average is 118.47,166.79 Yuan(RMB)/a and 204.41,236.22(Yuan RMB)/a,respectively.In contrast,double-bounded model could obtain much more information of WTP of the investigated,thus reducing the confidence interval of estimation,and enhancing the estimation accuracy of the WTP.According to the estimated mean WTP of the double-bounded CVM,the total ecosystem service value of the TJQR is 15.54 million Yuan(RMB).Compared with the conventional electricity of fossil power and large hydropower,the SHP will be less competitive in the absence of non-market value,ignoring that the environmental impacts of existing SHP will undermine the healthy development of clean energy sector.     

基于能值分析的滨海湿地生态系统服务价值定量化研究进展

在滨海湿地生态系统服务价值评价中,能值方法克服了传统经济学方法的一些不足,对评价沿海地区发展的可持续性具有重要意义,并成为近十年来环境经济学和生态经济学研究的热点问题。综合国内外滨海湿地生态系统服务价值能值评价的研究进展,就滨海湿地生态系统的供给、调节、文化和支持服务价值的能值估算方法进行了分析。在此基础上,指出了目前该方法应用于滨海湿地生态系统服务价值评价主要存在能值转换率的选用不一致、生态系统服务价值的能值估算方法需要完善、能值分析所应用的滨海湿地类型较少、缺少对人类活动引起的生态系统服务能值变化的评价及检验评价结论正确性的标准等不足,并提出了进一步的研究方向。     

Household costs and benefits of biodiversity conservation: case study of Sichuan giant panda reserves in China

Households in communities in and around nature reserves are important stakeholders in biodiversity conservation; they are the focus of the conflict between ecological protection and community development. This study surveyed 927 households in 16 giant panda reserves in Sichuan Province, China, to calculate the costs and benefits to households of biodiversity conservation, and the differences for those inside and outside reserves. A multilevel regression model was used to measure the factors influencing the costs and benefits. There are three main findings. First, the direct economic cost for average biodiversity conservation for households inside reserves (1166.83 yuan/year) is significantly higher at the 1% level than for those outside (578.27 yuan/year), while the direct economic benefit for average biodiversity conservation to households living inside reserves (3881.94 yuan/year) is not statistically different than those outside (3653.47 yuan/year). Second, the influence of biodiversity conservation on households is significantly different depending on whether they live inside or outside the reserve, regarding employment opportunities, ties with the outside world, infrastructure, and the community environment. There is also a significant difference between those inside and those outside in perceptions with regard to restrictions in the collection of wild plants and destruction of traditional culture by biodiversity conservation. Third, the factors that affect the costs for and benefits to households of biodiversity conservation include, at the household level, the head of household’s education level, village cadres, number of migrant workers, distance from the town market, reserve-based employment, development projects, and ecotourism management participation, and, at the reserve level, establishment time, level of reserve, protective effect, and location.     

ESTIMATING THE LOCAL COST OF PROTECTING KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE RESERVE, NEPAL: A CONTINGENT VALUATION APPROACH

We estimate the compensation required by the local communities to forego access to the natural resources within the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), Nepal using the contingent valuation method (CVM). In addition to contributing a CVM application from a seldom studied location to the literature, this case illustrates the sensitivity of WTA estimates to the analytical technique adopted. We analyze households’ willingness to accept (WTA) compensation using Tobit and double-hurdle regression models that account for the censored distribution of WTA and nested yes/no decision implicit in the WTA responses. The average WTA of a household residing in the vicinity of KTWR is estimated to be US $238, which amounts to nearly $ 1.64 million for the neighboring region. The results provide a basis to address local people’s concerns in the process of sustainable management of natural resources and wetland ecosystems in KTWR, Nepal.     

基于价值损失的黄河三角洲湿地生态补偿标准研究

生态补偿作为一种新型的资源与环境管理手段,越来越受到国内外学者的关注。在过去20年里,国内外学者对生态补偿的概念、机制、模式、标准及生态补偿的效益等做了大量研究,但由于生态补偿具有很强的学科交叉性和地域差异性,致使上述研究尚存在较大分歧。生态补偿标准关系到生态补偿的可行性及效果,因此是生态补偿研究的核心,但目前还没有公认的量化方法。本文以黄河三角洲湿地为研究对象,探讨了依据生态价值损失来制定生态补偿标准的途径。文章首先运用市场价值法、环境保护投入费用评价法、生态价值法、成果参数法等计算了黄河三角洲因湿地面积减少和环境污染造成的直接市场价值和生态服务功能价值的损失量,然后以生态价值损失量为依据制定了湿地生态补偿的资金分配方案和补偿标准。研究结果表明,不同湿地类型的补偿标准不同。对于同一湿地类型,以生态功能价值损失为依据制定的补偿标准远高于以市场价值损失为依据制定的补偿标准。本研究为黄河三角洲地区实施湿地生态补偿提供了重要科学依据。     

Quantifying changes to historic fish habitat extent on north coast NSW floodplains,Australia

Global degradation of coastal ecosystems is influencing the provision of ecosystem services, including fisheries maintenance services. Degradation of the Australian coastal zone and its resources following European occupation has been recognised for some time. This includes the loss of ecologically important coastal wetlands, which have strong trophic and habitat links to fisheries. In NSW, structural flood mitigation works are a principle driver of the decline of coastal wetlands; however, little action has been taken to quantify the extent of decline due to limited information of the pre-European settlement extent of coastal wetlands. We use spatial data sets in GIS to quantify prime fish habitat and calculate the loss of fish habitat for the large coastal floodplains of northern NSW, which are significant contributors to the commercial and recreational fisheries of NSW. The technique is validated by comparison with early maps of wetland distribution. We identified pre-European distribution of available fish habitat of approximately 477,000 ha, of which 87,000 ha was identified as prime fish habitat. Approximately 62,000 ha of prime fish habitat was impacted by drainage of the coastal floodplains in association with flood mitigation works which intensified in the mid-1950s and were largely completed by 1971, equating to a loss of approximately 72 % of prime fish habitat. The declining value of the ecosystem services provided by prime fish habitat following drainage is likely to be substantial. Some actions have taken place to restore the functions of this habitat although significant opportunities remain to reverse this decline through management actions that restore natural drainage and reinstate tidal exchange. These actions become even more important as pressures on coastal wetlands increase with climate change and associated sea-level rise.     

Coastal protection structures in Tarawa Atoll, Republic of Kiribati

In the context of rapid population growth and urbanization, atoll countries have engaged in reclamation works and in the construction of coastal defences to extend inhabitable areas and reduce the threats posed by coastal erosion and flooding. Despite their major role in asset protection, coastal structures are still poorly documented. However, a better knowledge of the characteristics of these structures (location, type, condition, management status, etc.) would facilitate the establishment of consistent construction and maintenance programmes, and also contribute to a better understanding of shoreline changes. To address this need, this paper provides an assessment of coastal structures on Tarawa Atoll in Kiribati. The results highlight the abundance of structures, mostly seawalls (94.7 % of the total), which stretch along 29 % of the coastline. The protected shoreline decreases from urban (53.9 % at Bairiki) to rural islands (27.3 % at Buota), in proportion to population pressure. The occurrence and height of structures are greater on windward, ocean shores than on lagoon shores. Seawall condition is better in rural islands, compared to urban and semi-urban areas. The observed differences in the characteristics and physical condition of coastal structures mainly reflect differences in the management status of structures and the availability of building materials and funding. More generally, the occurrence and characteristics of coastal structures are strongly correlated to population densities, land-use dynamics and shoreline mobility. At some locations, the failure of coastal protection highlights the seriousness of the problems raised by land-use practices in Tarawa.     

国家级重点生态功能区县生态系统生产总值核算研究——以阿尔山市为例

国家级重点生态功能区是国家重要的生态安全屏障,是保障生态系统稳定的重要区域,生态系统生产总值(GEP)是生态系统为人类福祉和经济社会可持续发展提供的产品与服务价值的总和。核算重点生态功能区县生态系统生产总值(GEP)不仅为揭示区域生态系统为人类福祉和经济社会发展贡献提供了新的手段,同时为完善限制开发区市县政府考核机制和离任审计提供了新的科学方法。本文以国家级重点生态功能区县——阿尔山市为例,运用市场价值法、影子工程法、替代成本法及旅游费用法等研究方法,对阿尔山市生态系统产品提供、调节服务、文化服务3大类11项服务功能进行核算,结果表明:(1)2014年,阿尔山市生态系统生产总值539.88亿元,就生态系统服务类别而言,调节服务价值最高,占88.44%;文化服务价值占8.72%;产品提供价值占2.83%。(2)就不同生态系统服务类型而言,气候调节功能价值最大,占45.33%;固碳释氧价值、水源涵养价值、洪水调蓄价值次之。(3)就不同生态系统类型而言,由大到小排序,森林湿地草地灌丛农田。其中,森林生态系统生产总值最高,占61.99%;湿地次之,占32.44%。     

长沙市湿地资源非使用价值评估研究

湿地资源非使用价值评估，有利于科学合理、可持续的开发和利用湿地资源。在理解湿地管理决策机制的基础上，用CVM法对长沙市湿地资源非使用价值进行了评估；利用415份问卷调查数据，采用Tobit模型探讨了长沙市居民对于长沙市湿地资源非使用价值的支付意愿；调查数据主要来自长沙市五区。研究表明：长沙市湿地资源非使用价值支付意愿受到多种因素的影响，包括被访者的社会经济特性、被访者对湿地的了解程度、被访者在湿地的休闲时间、湿地的距离远近等；长沙市湿地资源非使用价值为0437 6亿元/a，其中存在价值为0253 8亿元/a，遗产价值为0096 3亿元/a，选择价值为0087 5亿元/a。所计算出的非使用价值是一个动态变化的量，随着经济发展，人们的环境意识将随之增强，对于湿地生态资源的支付意愿也将呈现出增长的态势。〖     

Residents'''' Willingness to Pay for Improving Air Quality in Jinan, China

Along with the progress of urbanization and environmental deterioration, residents' desire for improved air quality is increasing. In order to quantify an individual's willingness-to-pay (WTP) for improved air quality in Jinan of eastern China, a contingent valuation method (CVM) was employed. A sample of 1,500 residents was chosen on the basis of multistage sampling methods with face-to-face interviews by using a series of hypothetical, open-ended scenario questions which were designed to elicit the respondents' WTP. Results showed that 59.7% of respondents were able to express their WTP and the mean WTP is 100 Chinese Yuan (CNY) per person per year. A probit model on the probability of a positive WTP and a regression model were developed to find the relationship between endogenous variables and WTP. Most parameters in the econometric analysis had the expected sign. Annual household income and expenditure on treating respiratory diseases significantly influence WTP. The rates of positive WTP and the monetary amount are larger for men than for women. Results also showed that people who lived in more polluted areas were willing to pay more for clean air. Unlike developed countries, clean air may only be considered as a public good in China in that more than 40% of respondents had no incentive to bear the costs of attempting to achieve better air quality, which indicates the relatively low environmental consciousness.     

The economic value of coastal waters as nutrient filters for the Baltic Sea

This paper calculates the economic value of coastal zones as nutrient filters by using the replacement cost method, which implies that the value is calculated as the savings in costs from reaching politically determined future nutrient target. It is shown that the magnitude of this value depends on the cost of other abatement measures besides nutrient filters of coastal zones, the stringency and timing of the nutrient target, discount rate, and spatial and temporal dispersions of cleaning impacts. The application to the Baltic Sea indicates that the value can amount to approximately 600 billions of SEK (1 Euro = 9.01 SEK, June 3, 2012), which corresponds to 1.9 % of the Baltic Sea region’s total gross domestic product. The largest gains are obtained by Poland because this country faces the largest financial burdens of meeting targets.     

上海河岸带公众偏好及生态系统服务价值评估

针对上海地区河岸带的环境质量提升情况,基于条件价值法(CVM)研究上海市居民对河岸带的偏好、支付意愿及生态系统服务价值,并通过SPSS软件考察影响受访者支付意愿率的主要因素。得到以下结论:①受访者对上海地区河岸带满意度与其使用河岸带频率呈显著相关性(p=0.001),表明受访者与河岸带的亲疏关系主要取决于其利用河岸带的实际频率。②使用五点评价法对河岸带状况进行分析,亲水性指标得分2.94,水质指标得分3.51,分别为受访者对河岸带最满意与最不满意要素。③针对河岸带10项评价要素进行因子分析,可将受访者对河岸带的满意度因子归纳为河岸带的自然属性和社会属性,且后者的影响权重更大。④受访者对树草结合、人行道位于绿化间且护岸保留湿地的河岸带布局的评价结果得分1 199,为最高得分,表明受访者偏好该类河岸带布局。⑤投标金额在一系列影响支付意愿率因子中,显著性p=0.000,影响最为剧烈。⑥受访者的支付意愿为537.6元/(年.户),整个生态系统的估算价值为2.74亿元/年。     

上海市海岸带管理的现状、挑战及发展分析

为了实现上海市海岸带地区的经济、社会与环境的可持续发展，从法律法规、管理机构及协调机制、管理公报和规划、海岸带生态与环境保护措施、海岸带灾害预防与应急管理、科技支撑等方面对上海市海岸带管理状态进行了分析。与欧盟海岸带综合管理进展标准相比较，上海市海岸带管理总体上尚处于初级阶段。然后，根据上海市海岸带管理的现状以及未来面临的挑战，从海岸带综合管理实施模式探索、海岸带系统科学与工程研究以及经济产业与生态建设布局整体优化等方面提出了上海海岸带综合管理的发展建议。〖     

Impacts of predicted sea level rise on land use/land cover categories of the adjacent coastal areas of Mumbai megacity,India

Physical and ecological responses of the coastal areas in the vicinity of Mumbai, India, due to relative sea level rise are examined by different inundation scenarios. Evaluation of potential habitat loss under sea level rise was made by incorporating the land use/land cover (LULC) adopted from the digital elevation model with the satellite imagery. LULC categories overlaid on 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 m coastal elevation showed that the coastal areas of Mumbai were mostly covered by vegetation followed by barren land, agricultural land, urban areas and water bodies. For the relative sea level rise scenarios of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 m, the tidal inundation areas were estimated to be 257.85, 385.58, 487.56 and 570.63 km², respectively, using GIS techniques. The losses of urban areas were also estimated at 25.32, 41.64, 54.61 and 78.86 km² for the 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 m relative sea level rise, respectively, which is most alarming information for the most populated city on the eastern coast of India. The results conclude that relative sea level rise scenario will lead profound impacts on LULC categories as well as on coastal features and landforms in the adjoining part of Mumbai. The sea level rise would also reduce the drainage gradients that promote flooding condition to rainstorms and subsequently increase saltwater intrusion into coastal regions. Alterations in the coastal features and landforms correlated with inundation characteristics that make the coastal region more vulnerable in the coming decades due to huge development activities and population pressures in Mumbai.     

基于CVM视角的三峡国家公园管理制度研究

国家公园是被国际社会公认的自然生态保护的有效模式,在生态文明、环境保护等问题上具有重要价值。建立国家公园体制、实施主体功能区制度在中国国家层面得到重视,有关国家公园的学术探讨逐渐成为学界研究热点。从利益相关者角度,运用CVM法测算三峡国家公园利益相关者对公园开发后保护和门票的支付意愿(WTP值),并对二者进行比较,从货币支付角度测度各利益主体对三峡国家公园的重视程度。然后运用Logistic回归模型分析不同利益主体对三峡国家公园保护支付意愿的影响因素。在此基础上探讨三峡国家公园的社区参与、门票管理、机构设置及经营管理,是国家公园体制在三峡库区实施的可行性探索。研究结论对未来三峡国家公园乃至国内其他国家公园建设具有借鉴意义。     

Residents' Willingness to Pay for Improving Air Quality in Jinan,China

Abstract

Along with the progress of urbanization and environmental deterioration, residents' desire for improved air quality is increasing. In order to quantify an individual's willingness-to-pay (WTP) for improved air quality in Jinan of eastern China, a contingent valuation method (CVM) was employed. A sample of 1,500 residents was chosen on the basis of multistage sampling methods with face-to-face interviews by using a series of hypothetical, open-ended scenario questions which were designed to elicit the respondents' WTP. Results showed that 59.7% of respondents were able to express their WTP and the mean WTP is 100 Chinese Yuan (CNY) per person per year. A probit model on the probability of a positive WTP and a regression model were developed to find the relationship between endogenous variables and WTP. Most parameters in the econometric analysis had the expected sign. Annual household income and expenditure on treating respiratory diseases significantly influence WTP. The rates of positive WTP and the monetary amount are larger for men than for women. Results also showed that people who lived in more polluted areas were willing to pay more for clean air. Unlike developed countries, clean air may only be considered as a public good in China in that more than 40% of respondents had no incentive to bear the costs of attempting to achieve better air quality, which indicates the relatively low environmental consciousness.