Modelling a Compensation Standard for a Regional Forest Ecosystem: A Case Study in Yanqing District, Beijing, China

Economical assessment of forest ecosystem services in China: Characteristics and implications

Problem. Forests are the most important natural resource that has shaped the history and culture of each region. The economic assessment of forest ecosystem services is essential for improving the environmental situation, and acts as the basis for making informed management decisions. The economic assessment of ecosystem services is a complex scientific and methodological problem and is characterized by certain contradictions. One of these problems is the diversity and specificity of individual ecosystem services, in connection with which it greatly complicates the process of formation of standardized scientific and methodological approaches to the assessment of ecosystem services. Goal. The aim is to analyze methodological approaches to the cost assessment of forest ecosystem services and give an economic assessment of forest ecosystem services on the example of SE "Vovchanske forestry" of Kharkiv region. Methodology. Analytical research methods were used to determine standardized scientific and methodological approaches to the economic evaluation of ecosystem services and to identify forest ecosystem services for which there is sufficient source information for calculating the cost. The calculation method was used for the economic assessment of certain categories of forest ecosystem services and for the consolidated assessment of the cost of providing and regulating forest services of SE "Vovchanske forestry". Results. The result is a number of key principles of best practice for the cost assessment of ecosystem services “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity” (ТЕЕВ). Analysis of the main approaches to the commodification of ecosystem services made it possible to determine the established practice of their cost assessment on the basis of the Belarusian methodology "The procedure for carrying out a cost assessment of ecosystem services". The paper considers the main ecosystem services of the forest, identifies services for which there is enough initial information to calculate the cost. This is the characteristic of forestry SE "Vovchansky forestry". Of all the ecosystem services, forests are currently involved in market turnover and have an established cost of direct actual use services – providing services, and of the latter – the provision of wood. To calculate the cost of harvested wood, the average price was taken (taking into account the price of wood – firewood) per 1 m3 – 857 UAH/m3. The calculated cost of wood resources with a specific volume of felling 28.9 m3/ha is 24767 UAH/ha. In addition to wood, the forest also supplies the so-called non-wood resources, food resources and medicinal plants. The cost of wood and non-wood-providing forest services is 55297 UAH/ha. At the same time, the cost of non-wood resources exceeds the cost of harvested wood. Among the regulating ecosystem services of the forest, carbon dioxide assimilation is most often considered, which is an economically important factor in light of the problem of climate change and the Paris Agreement. In this paper, the estimate of the average annual absorption of carbon dioxide is carried out for the generalized age of plantings due to the inability to obtain data on the age indicators of certain areas of forestry and their growth areas. The calculation of the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed determines the assimilation capacity of the forest at 13.48 t/ha. At the existing rate per ton of $ 15 US (~ 420 UAH), the price of assimilation service is 5660 UAH/ha. Directly related to the assimilation of carbon dioxide, another regulatory service is the production of oxygen. At the cost of industrial oxygen production of 110.00 UAH/m3, the cost of the service is 55000 UAH/ha. Forests act as a filter, purify atmospheric air from various kinds of harmful impurities. The object of economic assessment of the assimilation potential of forest vegetation is the limiting content of pollutants in the phyto mass of the main forest-forming rocks. At the rates of environmental tax on substances emitted into the air, the cost of assimilation of pollutants is calculated, which is 17412 UAH/ha. The total cost of regulating ecosystem services of the forest is 81767,00 UAH/ha. Thus, the consolidated assessment of the cost of providing and regulating services of the forest SE "Vovchanske forestry" is 137054 UAH/ha. Originality. An economic assessment of the ecosystem services of the Volchanske forestry was carried out, the excess of the cost of regulatory services over services for the harvesting and delivery of timber and other “gifts” of the forest was determined. Practical value. The assessment of forest ecosystem services shows that the main value of the forest is not the provision of wood, but in the assimilation potential of the forest, its ability to maintain the cycle of substances and biodiversity. This must be taken into account when making environmental decisions and in order to develop paid nature management.

Mountain forest ecosystems provide a wide range of direct and indirect contributions to the people who live in the mountains and surrounding areas. Occupying steep slopes at high elevation, these ecosystems provide services such as stabilizing slopes, regulating hydrological cycles, maintaining rich biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of those who are diverse in culture but vulnerable to poverty and food security. This paper (i) reviews several tools for assessing the sociocultural, economic and ecological values of mountain forest ecosystem services, (ii) demonstrates case studies of tool applications from several countries namely, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Iran and Nepal, and (iii) discusses assessment challenges that should be considered in the application of these tools.In Bhutan, an application of benefit transfer showed that the average total value of forest ecosystem services was over USD 14.5 billion per year. In India, an application of stakeholder and household analyses indicated that a total of 29 different ecosystem services are available and sustain livelihoods of local communities near the Maguri Mottapung wetland. In Indonesia, an application of Q methodology identified anticipated benefits and concerns of forest watershed stakeholders related to certification applications for a payment for ecosystem services. In Iran, an application of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs Tool showed that the regulation of ecosystem services has been declining in Hyrcanian forests despite the forests’ critical roles in the region. In Nepal, an application of a spatial analytical approach and participatory assessment techniques identified key mountain ecosystem services for community forests at the Charnawolti sub-watershed of Dolakha, and demonstrated forest restoration on degraded lands over the last two decades. Several challenges exist for the assessment of mountain forest ecosystem services and these must be reflected in assessment design. These challenges include the complexity of defining and classifying ecosystem services; limited availability of data on ecosystem services; uncertainties associated with climate change; complex relationships among services including trade-offs and synergies; and limitation of assessments to build successful payments for ecosystem services.Mountain forest ecosystems provide a wide range of direct and indirect contributions to the people who live in the mountains and surrounding areas. Occupying steep slopes at high elevation, these ecosystems provide services such as stabilizing slopes, regulating hydrological cycles, maintaining rich biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of those who are diverse in culture but vulnerable to poverty and food security. This paper (i) reviews several tools for assessing the sociocultural, economic and ecological values of mountain forest ecosystem services, (ii) demonstrates case studies of tool applications from several countries namely, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Iran and Nepal, and (iii) discusses assessment challenges that should be considered in the application of these tools. In Bhutan, an application of benefit transfer showed that the average total value of forest ecosystem services was over USD 14.5 billion per year. In India, an application of stakeholder and household analyses indicated that a total of 29 different ecosystem services are available and sustain livelihoods of local communities near the Maguri Mottapung wetland. In Indonesia, an application of Q methodology identified anticipated benefits and concerns of forest watershed stakeholders related to certification applications for a payment for ecosystem services. In Iran, an application of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs Tool showed that the regulation of ecosystem services has been declining in Hyrcanian forests despite the forests’ critical roles in the region. In Nepal, an application of a spatial analytical approach and participatory assessment techniques identified key mountain ecosystem services for community forests at the Charnawolti sub-watershed of Dolakha, and demonstrated forest restoration on degraded lands over the last two decades. Several challenges exist for the assessment of mountain forest ecosystem services and these must be reflected in assessment design. These challenges include the complexity of defining and classifying ecosystem services; limited availability of data on ecosystem services; uncertainties associated with climate change; complex relationships among services including trade-offs and synergies; and limitation of assessments to build successful payments for ecosystem services.

New Developments in Assessing Forest Ecosystem Services in Romania

济南市森林生态系统服务功能空间格局研究

The valuation of ecosystem services has become increasingly relevant due to the intricate relationship between humans and ecosystems. In the Piatra Craiului National Park (LTER Bucegi-Piatra Craiului site), rapid environmental changes and growing anthropogenic pressures on forest resources necessitate a robust understanding of ecosystem services' value. This study investigates two key aspects: the monetary and non-monetary valuation of forest ecosystem services and the interconnections between these valuations and biophysical variables. the monetary and non-monetary valuation of forest ecosystem services and the interconnections between these valuations and biophysical variables. Primary statistical analyses were conducted using the R PASTECS package, revealing notable variability in monetary (141%) and non-monetary (62%) values across management units. Data sources included Forest Management Plans and geospatial analyses derived from photograph datasets. Monetary values ranged from €34 to over €570,000 per management unit, while non-monetary kernel scores ranged from 1 to 5. Correlations were identified between monetary values and carbon stock, stand volume, and other biophysical metrics, highlighting stronger relationships compared to those involving non-monetary metrics, such as altitude and flora type. A social-media-based approach provided additional insights into the cultural dimensions of ecosystem services, engaging stakeholders and fostering broader public awareness. This integrated methodology underscores the need to balance economic and ecological perspectives in natural resource management. The findings contribute to adaptive management strategies by aligning long-term ecological research with actionable policy recommendations, ultimately promoting sustainable resource use and conservation efforts in the Southern Carpathians.

Net value of forest ecosystem services in China

Forest ecosystem services are fundamental for human life. To protect and increase forest ecosystem services, the driving factors underlying changes in forest ecosystem service values must be determined to properly implement forest resource management planning. This study examines the driving factors that affect changes in forest ecosystem service values by focusing on regional forest characteristics using a dataset of 47 prefectures in Japan for 2000, 2007, and 2012. We applied two approaches: a contingent valuation method for estimating the forest ecosystem service value per area and a decomposition analysis for identifying the main driving factors of changes in the value of forest ecosystem services. The results indicate that the value of forest ecosystem services has increased due to the expansion of forest area from 2000 to 2007. However, factors related to forest management and ecosystem service value per area have contributed to a decrease in the value of ecosystem services from 2000 to 2007 and from 2007 to 2012, respectively.

This review focuses on the assessment and economic valuation of ecosystem services from forest ecosystems�that is, our ability to predict changes in the quantity and value of ecosystem services as a result of specific forest management decisions. It is aimed at forest economists and managers and intended to provide a useful reference to those interested in developing the practice of integrated forest modeling and valuation. We review examples of ecosystem services associated with several broad classes of potentially competing forest uses�production of timber, sequestration of carbon, regulation of the quality and quantity of water, provision of residential and recreational amenities, and protection of endangered species. For each example considered, we briefly describe what is known about ecological production functions and economic benefits functions. We also highlight the challenges and best practices in the creation and use of this knowledge. In the final section, we discuss the process, strengths, pitfalls, and limitations of utilizing integrated models for benefit-cost analysis of proposed forest management activities.

Ecosystem functions, services and their values – a case study in Xingshan County of China

In this paper, we first present a total forest economic value framework from an anthropocentric instrumental value perspective and differentiate gross value, economic value, market value, and valuation of forest ecosystem services. We then argue that some of the demand-side-based non-market valuation approaches only provide an estimate of gross value, not economic value. Thus, strictly speaking, they are not market valuation per se as the supply side is ignored, and as many non-marketable and non-extractive forest ecosystem services are concerned, it is often the supply side – the opportunity costs of resources used to produce them that determine the economic values of these services. Finally, we identify the role of economic valuation of forest ecosystem services in the political market that often allocates resources directly to produce these services.

Forest ecosystems represent the most important values of natural assets. In economic valuation techniques, to estimate the value of forest ecosystem services, the attention is still focused mainly on their market values, i.e. the value of benefits measured in the economic calculation based, first of all, on the price of timber. The valuation of natural resources is currently supported by considerations of the global policy, in order to strengthen the argumentation justifying the need to incur expenditure related to the protection of biodiversity. There is increasing evidence that biodiversity contributes to forest ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. Natural capital of forests can be consumed directly as food, wood and other raw materials or indirectly – by benefitting from purified water and air, safeguarded soils or protected climate. At the same time, forest ecosystems provide us with a range of intangible values – scientific, cultural, religious as well as encompass heritage to pass on to future generations. In the era of increasing pressure on the use of free public goods (natural resources), it is necessary to improve understanding of the role of forests in creating national natural capital, and in enhancing the quality of human life. All things considered, the so called non-market forest ecosystem services may have a much higher value than the profits from the production of timber and raw materials. Needless to say, non-market values of forest ecosystems are of great importance for the quality of human life, and the awareness of this should translate into social behavior in the use of natural resources. This paper reviews the methods to estimate the value of forest ecosystem services in view of recently acknowledged paradigm to move forward from economic production to sustainable human well-being.

Spatiotemporal dynamic analysis of forest ecosystem services using “big data”: A case study of Anhui province, central-eastern China

As the most important ecosystem in Beijing, the forest supports a lot of ecosystem services to local and around communities, which plays a key role in the maintenance of urban ecological security. However, the valuation on the forest ecosystem services based on regional scale could not provide precise and reasonable values for forestry sector management. In this study, we estimated the magnitudes and economic values of the forest ecosystem services in Beijing at sublot level. The economic value of forest ecosystem services in Beijing was estimated to be 19 339.71×10 6 yuan (RMB) in 2004. Among all the ecosystem services indicators we estimated in this study, only fruit, timber and part of the recreation (which only include the tourism income from the forest parks and scenic areas, but not include that from other forest types) were measured in the social economic system. As estimated in this study, more than 82.19% of the economic value of forest ecosystem services could not be measured in the socio-economic statisti- cal system. The importance of forest ecosystem services in Beijing to human welfare was underestimated by the socio-economic system. Therefore, the policies about the eco-compensation of forest ecosystem services should be es- tablished to maintain the sustainable supply of the forest ecosystem services in Beijing.

Forest governance and economic values of forest ecosystem services in Vietnam