The economic potential of payments for ecosystem services in water conservation: a case study in the upper reaches of Shiyang River basin, northwest China

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeng Tang ◽  
Yulan Shi ◽  
Zhibiao Nan ◽  
Zhongmin Xu
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Shiyang River Basin ◽  
Local Farmers

AbstractIn this paper, we conduct an investigation to assess the economic potential of payments for ecosystem services to conserve water through the conversion of land under irrigation into rain-fed land in the upper reaches of the Shiyang River basin, located in northwest China. We use an approach developed by Antle and Valdivia (2006, Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 50: 1–15) to estimate the supply of water. The analysis shows that it is theoretically possible to reduce agricultural water consumption and subsequently increase the water supply, which would aid the prevention of environmental degradation in the middle and lower reaches of the Shiyang River basin. In addition to the conservation of water, considerable income would be generated by local farmers, which would help to alleviate poverty. Furthermore, the analysis also suggests that more complete data on ecosystem services rates, transaction costs and other related factors would be of value for achieving a more comprehensive assessment.

Response of Ecological Services Value to Land Use Change in the Shiyang River Basin: A Case Study in Wuwei Region

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 5116-5120
Author(s):  
Pei Ji Shi ◽  
Xue Bin Zhang ◽  
Jun Luo ◽  
Xue Min Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Main Part ◽  
Land Use Pattern ◽  
Shiyang River Basin ◽  
Unused Land

Based on the detailed survey of land use change in Shiyang river basin, referencing Costanza, and Xie et al’ research results of the value of ecosystem services, this article probed the variation of land use and value of ecosystem service in Wuwei region. The results are: from 1997 to 2006, the area of woodland, construction land and garden land are increasing, while farmland, grassland, water and unused land are continuing to decrease. Land-use intensity is gradually increasing, the land use pattern towards to a centralized style. The values of ecosystem services are overall upward, and change faster than ever. The main part of the value of ecosystem service is constituted by the value of grassland, woodland and farmland. So it’s important to control the expansion of urban construction, strength the protection of the water, restore and enhance regional ecosystem services in the future.

scholarly journals Afforesting Icelandic land: a promising approach for climate smart forestry?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislava Brnkalakova ◽  
Jan Svetlik ◽  
Sigríður Júlía Brynleifsdóttir ◽  
Arnór Snorrason ◽  
Viera Baštáková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽  
European Policy ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services ◽  
Local Farmers

Climate smart forestry (CSF) is considered as a promising approach for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies as highlighted in several European policy documents. This paper describes a prospective approach to introducing an incentive-based scheme to facilitate the implementation of CSF through a case study in Iceland. It is argued that the payments for ecosystem services (PES) scheme allows for effective CSF management and long-term sustainability if introduced in compliance with local, cultural and social values. In a case study of an Icelandic afforestation programme, we conducted an institutional analysis of the PES scheme and assessed its effect on forest ecosystem services provision on long-term sustainability. We provide preliminary findings on the application of CSF in the 30-year-old Icelandic afforestation programme scheme. The perspectives of forest and policy experts, as well as local farmers participating in the scheme, were crucial for assessing the effectiveness of PES scheme performance in Iceland.

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