Significance of ecosystem services economic estimation for conservation and efficient use of natural landscapes

The practicalexperience of evaluating eco-system services for developing mechanisms of managing and preserving landscapes proved to be promisingin Tomsk region. This being said, the efficiency of the applied methods is directly dependent upon their appropriate selection. Firstof all, the scope and type of landscape utilization need to be studied. In case of using a natural site in recreational purposes and given thesigns of its certain elements evident degradation, the most efficient technique would be a subjective estimation method based upon thewillingness of the population to contribute some funds for preserving the natural properties of the wild landscape. If a natural site is ofboth recreational and economic value, being a source of food, medical and other raw materials derived from wood products, then agraded approach to the evaluation of eco-system services needs to be applied. In this case the economic value of a natural site will beconstituted by the sum of the used natural resources evaluations. Primarily, groups of consumers are determined, and the study coversnot only the type of landscape utilization, but also the economic value of its certain components. This is proved by the evaluation of ecosystemservices of Tomsk recreational areas. The city is located in the south of Western Siberia and is a regional centre where half ofTomsk region population live (over 600,000 people). The opinion polling allowed not only performing the economic evaluation but alsoidentifying the mechanisms of natural landscapes management. There are parks in the city that are used by the citizens only for promenades.The average value of the willingness to pay determined in money terms amounted to $29 apiece annually. The overall cost of theparks presence in Tomsk is $8 mln a year. Nevertheless, the citizens satisfy their need in outdoor recreation by leaving the city area.Here a unique natural site is situated - Timiryazevsky pine forest, where recreation can be combined with gathering wild-growingplants, fishing, and hunting. For this natural site, a combination of methods was applied, namely, the method of willingness to paywith that of the market evaluation of the forest renewable resources. The results of the opinion polls allowed both evaluating the ecosystemservices of the area and identifying the mechanisms of unique natural landscapes preservation.

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