Abstract
A lthough mountains are rich in natural resources and provide vital ecosystem services to the global community, mountain people are marginalised. As the ecosystem services they provide are mostly free of charge, they have no incentive to invest in the conservation. We examine the feasibility of improving their livelihoods through the sale of water services to downstream communities. Using hydro-meteorological data, we assessed the effects of forest conservation on water yield and estimated the value of water services to downstream communities. Results show that if a system of payment for ecosystem services is established, mountain communities can improve their livelihoods by converting their farmland into conservation areas. However, it will take 15 years to increase the water yield, which means that external assistance is required in early years. Policy measures are suggested to establish a market for ecosystem services to encourage upstream communities to take conservation measures. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jepsl.v2i1.5734 Journal of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka Vol.2(1) 2013 1-12
Highlights
The concept of a green economy has been gaining currency recently as a way of linking economic growth and environmental sustainability
Mountains are rich in natural resources and provide vital ecosystem services to the global community, mountain people are economically marginalised
Those with developing economies – where millions of people live in a fragile environment and depend mainly on the natural environment for their livelihoods and wellbeing – the usefulness and acceptance of the green economy approach is largely dependent on its ability to balance the conservation of natural capital with poverty reduction and human wellbeing
Summary
The concept of a green economy has been gaining currency recently as a way of linking economic growth and environmental sustainability. The green economy, as defined by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2010) is an economic system “that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities”. It highlights the value of nature for economic growth and human wellbeing and focuses on investment in the Earth’s natural capital, such as land, soil, forests, biodiversity, water, watersheds, and other natural resources, for ecological resilience and economic efficiency to reduce poverty and enhance sustainability. In promoting the green economy, the major challenge is, to generate economic activities that improves livelihoods and preserve and enhance environmental quality by using natural resources more efficiently
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