Ecosystem services, financing, and the regional economy: A case study from Tatra National Park, Poland

Abstract

How can protected areas contribute to regional development, to the provision of income and livelihood of residents? Posing this question rests on the assumption that protected areas may provide crucial ecosystem services to the local, regional, and even national and global communities. The study area chosen for exploring this question is the Tatra National Par in Poland—a Natura 2000 site according to European Union legislation, and a Biosphere Reserve according to UNESCO standards. The current study provides a detailed analysis of the economic value of ecosystem services to local and regional stakeholders, and in particular to visitors of the area. We take the valuation of ecosystem services as a starting point for our discussion of the question posed above, and highlight the links between ecosystem services, valuation, regional development, and financing of the national park. A brief presentation of the cost-side of the Tatra National Parkindicates that the benefits, or ecosystem services, provided are significantly higher than the costs of establishing and managing the park. Furthermore, the preconditions for effective national park policies are discussed, especially since a stringent regulatory framework is necessary to secure the provision of ecosystem services and the regulated and effective use of these services.