Economic assessment of ecosystem services of the national natural capital

Abstract

Relevance. The implementation of the principles of sustainable development of the national economy requires full consideration of the natural component in the national wealth. In modern conditions, the economic assessment of ecosystem services of forest ecosystems is of paramount importance in solving this problem. The Russian Federation, owning natural resources on a scale significantly superior to other countries of the world, having forest ecosystems unique in size and undisturbed characteristics on its territory, needs their comprehensive and most complete economic assessment. The purpose of the research is development of theoretical and methodological foundations and development of methodological tools for the economic assessment of ecosystem services of Russia’s national natural capital. Research methodology. In the process of research, general scientific methods were used: dialectical, abstract-logical, as well as methods of comparative analysis, analogies, expert analysis. Results. The procedure for assessing the ecosystem services of the national natural capital has been clarified, the priority of the contribution of forest ecosystems to the national natural capital has been substantiated; methodological approaches to the economic assessment of the most significant eco-services of Russian forest ecosystems, regulating the air quality of the atmosphere, water regulation and anti-erosion, have been developed. Calculation formulas for their economic assessment are proposed, economic equivalents are substantiated, allowing to obtain cost results. Approbation of methodological approaches for federal districts and Russia as a whole has been carried out. The value of the increase in national natural capital is determined by taking into account the economic assessment of ecosystem services. Conclusions. The developed methodological approaches to the economic assessment of the most significant environmental services: air quality regulation, water regulation and erosion control can be used in the economic assessment of these services at the national and regional levels, which will clarify the corresponding amount of natural capital within the boundaries of individual regions and the country as a whole.