Significant decline of ecosystem service valuation and carbon stocks through changing land use patterns of Ayodhya hill range (extended part of Chhota Nagpur Plateau), India

Environment or natural capitals provide multiple ecosystem services (ESs) and benefits to people. The approach of ecosystem service values (ESVs) describes the market values of the ecosystem products or services. The changes of ecosystem service valuation and carbon stocks significantly dropped in Ayodhya hill range (extended part of Chhota Nagpur plateau of India) due to rapid land use modification. The principal objectives of this research are (i) to determine the spatiotemporal changing pattern of ESVs through different unit values (for the year 1975, 2000 and 2021) (ii) to analyze the carbon sequestration through InVEST carbon model and (iii) to assess gross primary product (GPP) using MOD17 model. The ESVs result shows that total ESVs over Ayodhya hill range are 256.67, 258.60 and 239.78 million USD for 1975, 2000 and 2021 respectively. Total 16.90 million USD loss has been observed over the study area during the overall study period. Cropland has the highest ESVs due to its high unit values along with high proportion of area. Total 1000759 mg reduction of stored carbon has been estimated whereas a sharp decline of GPP (97.03 gC m-2 year-1) has also been observed during the research period (1975-2021). So, various integrated sustainable environmental management techniques should immediately apply over this nature based economic region for the benefits of local tribal people.

Forest Ecosystem Services in Latvia: Assessing of Experience and Tendencies

The research observed the experience of Latvia in valuing ecosystem services. The development of the economy of Latvia is significantly affected by the forest area reaching 52 % of the country’s total area. Assessing the services of the ecosystem of Latvia and valuing them in monetary terms could significantly change the structure of the economy of Latvia. Therefore, the value of ecosystem services consumed domestically and the possibility to export the services should be taken into account when drawing up policy documents for the forest and related industries of Latvia. The research aims to make a theoretical observation and experience collection of ecosystem service valuation methods and indicators that determine the value of ecosystem services and suggest the main methods for valuing the services of the ecosystem of Latvia. It should be acknowledged that no extensive research on the potential monetary contribution of ecosystem services to the national economy has been conducted in Latvia. Several research studies that focused only on certain areas have been carried out in Latvia. It should be emphasized that valuation practice employs a wide range of methods. Therefore, it is necessary to examine and select the most appropriate methods for identifying the value of ecosystem services under Latvian conditions, supplementing the range of the methods and adapting them to local conditions so that they help to more accurately value ecosystem services in the national and international context. Determining the value of ecosystem services would help to redirect the flow of national investment from traditional industries to efficient forest land management. Otherwise, private forest properties are increasingly sold to foreign businesses, which might lead to a lower value of the national capital of Latvia in the future.

Nature’s Services and Contributions: The Relational Value of Childhood Nature Experience and the Importance of Reciprocity

People depend on functioning ecosystems to meet human needs and support well-being across the life span. This article considers the interest in ecosystem service valuation, the growing interest in the benefits of nature experience for children, and ways to bridge these perspectives. We focus on embodied childhood nature experiences: the physical and multisensory experiences that intertwine child and nature. Additionally, we highlight the reciprocal quality of nature and child experience relationship as an example of how this relationship goes beyond the instrumental and demonstrates relational value. Underlying this perspective is the belief that children need to be better represented in the perception and action of ecosystem valuation in environmental policy.

Valuation of harvested goods in Mida Creek with application of the TESSA approach

Mangroves are considered a highly productive blue forests resource providing services that are important to the community both locally and globally. In recent times there has been an increase in studies on valuation of ecosystem services provided by mangroves. However, there is need to provide a simplified approach to identify, assess and quantify ecosystem services. In this study the Toolkit for Ecosystem Services Site-based Assessment (TESSA) was used to assess the value of harvested goods provided by the mangroves of Mida Creek in the current state and under plausible alternative scenarios. Spatial methods (GIS) were used to collect data for the period 1985-2019, and household interviews were used to collect data on harvested goods. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantitative data. Results show that the estimated current annual value of harvested goods in Mida Creek is US$ 11.2 million. This value increased to US$ 14.3 million under the conservation scenario and reduced to US$ 10.9 million under the business as usual scenario (BAU). These findings add to the growing literature on ecosystem service valuation and the need to use site-specific non-modelling tools like TESSA.

Challenges and Sensitivities in Assessing Total Ecosystem Service Values: Lessons From Vanuatu for the Pacific

Ecosystem service valuation (ESV) can inform land-use change policy and adaptation responses to climate change in Pacific Small Island Developing States. Despite Small Island Developing States communities relying acutely and directly on ecosystem service (ES) flows, methodologies must contend with limited valuation data and challenges. We undertake ESV to generate coefficients we then apply to mapped habitat extents for Vanuatu. We find the contribution of ESs to the people of Vanuatu is considerable and significantly larger than its gross domestic product. Therefore, policies that support ecologically sustainable exploitation of ESs are paramount in promoting community well-being. We also identify and discuss context-specific methodological challenges, which, if not addressed, risk distorting valuations, supporting perverse policy responses, and eroding confidence in ESV. We make recommendations to address the challenges of accounting for ecosystem condition, data gaps, and consideration of customary benefits, provide context to the interpretation of our results, and suggest where further research can ameliorate risks.