Provision Of Environmental Services Research Articles

ECONOMIC PROPOSAL FOR THE COMPENSATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE MOORS AND FORESTS OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIMBORAZO.

This article presents an economic proposal for the compensation of environmental goods and services in the páramos and forests of the province of Chimborazo. It is based on the recognition of the importance of these ecosystems in the provision of various environmental services, such as climate regulation and biodiversity conservation, among others; the proposal prioritizes water resources since they are threatened by various human activities, such as deforestation, extraction of natural resources and livestock and agricultural activity. Therefore, there is a need to establish a compensation mechanism for owners and communities that contribute to the conservation of these ecosystems and promote their sustainable use. The proposal presented in this article is based on the implementation of a system of payments for environmental services, through which owners and communities that commit to conserve and properly manage moorland and forest ecosystems would be compensated monetarily. The financing of this payment system would come from various mechanisms, such as public funds, international cooperation resources and contributions from the private sector.
 The implementation of this economic proposal that aims to conserve 756 hectares through a payment of 596,836 through the implementation of projects would encourage the conservation of natural ecosystems in the province of Chimborazo and promote their sustainable use, generating benefits for both the environment and the people who depend on them.

Estado del arte sobre el pago por servicios ambientales en Paraguay: Dieciséis años de gestión

Due to the increasing academic interest in Payment for Environmental Services (PES) globally and the scattered state of PES in Paraguay, this paper presents a review of Paraguay to provide an overview of the current state of the subject at the national level and develop new theoretical and methodological approaches. The main objectives of this article are to compile the history of management and systematization of technical, academic, and scientific information on PES in Paraguay and contribute to defining economic valuation methods to enhance PES at the local and regional levels. This will serve as a strategy for designing environmental management models that guarantee the provision of long-term environmental services (16 years of analysis).The study design was qualitative, documentary, bibliographic and descriptive, based on the preparation and analysis of a database with 41 technical documents that facilitated the systematization and mapping of the information. Results show that 46% of the documents analyzed correspond to peer-reviewed literature, with five identified management periods. The most worked aspect was the economic valuation of environmental goods and services, especially those derived from the forest, where market-based valuation techniques based have been applied to a greater extent. As for the valuation of environmental damage, no publications or works were found during the studied period. Economic valuation studies were important for the current PES regulation process in Paraguay. that the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) mechanism in Paraguay has made significant progress over the past 16 years. However, both the market and policies related to PES are still not fully established due to critical issues identified, primarily the lack of regulation of other certification modalities that contribute to both sustainable production and conservation strategies. Hence, there is a need to address these challenges to ensure the effective implementation of PES in Paraguay. * The photo corresponds to Tuyuyús cuarteleros (Jabiru mycteria) in the flooding savannah of the Chaco. Photo: Karim Musalem

It is possible to conciliate policy-driven forestry expansion and “malezales” wetlands conservation in Argentina?

Malezales are hydrophytic grasslands restricted to the province of Corrientes, northeastern Argentina, being considered natural wetlands. Although poorly studied and practically lacking legal protection, which hinders their sustainable management, they are of great economic importance for extensive livestock and forestry industry, in addition to their provision of environmental services and biodiversity. In the last decades, this ecosystem has been the stage of a process of expansion of planted forests, stimulated by policies to encourage afforestation. The present study aimed to estimate and zoning forest expansion over malezales for the year 2050, as well as to evaluate the sustainability of the forest expansion process, considering its conflicts with priority areas for recovery and conservation of the ecosystem. We presented an innovative approach to improve the land use planning in regions with multiple policy-driven conflicts among land uses. Remote sensing tools and geographic information systems were used to map (QGIS), model, project and zone (IDRISI) forestry expansion and its conflicts with areas of environmental interest. The results showed that forest expansion policies caused an intense process of replacing malezales by planted forests, intensely affecting agriculture and livestock and areas of ecological interest. Predictive modeling suggests a worsening of this scenario in 2050. The proposed zoning after conflict identification shows that it is possible to conciliate recovery, conservation and sustainable afforestation of malezales, and serves as a subsidy for planning and decision making. However, its application must be conditioned to further discussions between the actors involved, considering their local and specific needs.

The Hydrological Balance in Micro-Watersheds Is Affected by Climate Change and Land Use Changes

Temperate forests are key to the balance and provision of hydrological and environmental services. Currently, these forests are subject to human alterations as well as to the effects of global change, including warming, variability, deforestation, and forest fires. As a consequence, the hydrological balance has been modified. The present study simulates the effects of climate change and land use change on the hydrological balance of micro-watersheds in Mexico using the hydrological model Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP). The land use change between 1995 and 2021 was estimated to establish a baseline. Climate scenario SSP585 was projected using three global models, MPI-ESM1-2-LR, HadGEM3-GC31-LL, and CNRM-CM6-1 by the 2081–2100 horizon, along with two scenarios of land use change: one with forest permanence and another with loss of forest cover and increased forest fires. Results indicate that future climatic conditions will modify the hydrological balance at the microbasin level. Even with positive conditions of forest permanence, increases in surface runoff of 124% (CNRM), 35% (HadGEM3), and 13% (MPI) are expected. The projections of coverage loss and fires showed surface runoff increases of 338% (CNRM), 188% (HadGEM3), and 143% (MPI). In the high areas of the microbasins where temperate forest predominates, climatic variations could be contained. If the forest is conserved, surface runoff decreases by −70% (CNRM), −87% (HadGEM3), and −89% (MPI). Likewise, the moisture in the soil increases. In areas with temperate forests, there will be modifications of the hydrological balance mainly due to the increase in evapotranspiration (due to the increase in temperature and precipitation). This will cause a significant decrease in flow and interflow. The alteration of these flows will decrease water availability in soil for infiltration. It is expected that the availability of hydrological and environmental services will be compromised in the entire study area due to climate change.

Spatial patterns of riparian vegetation community composition and diversity along human‐ affected East African highland streams

AbstractRiparian vegetation, which plays important roles in conservation of regional biodiversity and provision of many environmental services, has been severely degraded in East Africa by human activities. To ameliorate this degradation, more knowledge of the vegetation and factors affecting it is required. Thus, effect of land use on the plant community composition, species richness and diversity patterns were investigated along 18 streams in the Gilgle Gibe River catchment, in south‐western Ethiopia, using 100 m2 plots established along transects on both sides of the streams at 35 sampling locations beside land designated as agricultural, forested, mixed vegetation or eucalyptus plantation. The communities in the plots were surveyed and classified by Two‐Way Indicator Species Analysis. In total, 107 vascular plant species belonging to 49 families were recorded. Species richness and diversity were lowest along streams beside agricultural land, which had narrow riparian buffers, and highest along forested streams, which had wider riparian buffers. The communities in the sampling plots were assigned to seven groups. Species richness was positively correlated buffer width (r = 0.74, p < 0.01). The results highlight the human influence on riparian vegetation and the importance of sustainable management that is compatible with its conservation and restoration. However, to address the severity and complexity of forest fragmentation, conservation strategies must embrace a multi‐site, contextual approach.

Nutrient loss to erosion responds to rain characteristics under transformed landscapes in the Río Grande basin, Colombian Andes

AbstractThe functioning of tropical montane ecosystems are key provider of environmental services. However, climate and land use change interactively affect the ecohydrological and biogeochemical processes that support the provision of such services. We evaluate the effect of land use/land coverand the seasonality and intensity of the rainfall on the ecological functions of erosion control and nutrient regulation in a gradient of human intervention in the Central Andes of Colombia. Our results show that soil erosion (kg/ha/year) was higher in the transitory crop (187.7), followed by the permanent crop (98.2), and much lower in the pasture (8.0) and native forest (7.2). Our results also indicate a differential effect of land use and rainfall seasonality on erosion and nutrient transport, both processes being significantly higher in crops and lower in forest, both for the wet and dry seasons. However, the relationships between erosion and rainfall intensity varied depending on the hydrological season (in the wet seasons, no linear model was significant, while in the dry seasons, linear models for maximum rainfall intensity were significant in both crops and in the oak forest, and linear models with mean intensity were significant for both types of crops). Nitrogen exhibited the highest rates of transport, which can have important implications for water and soil pollution. Nitrogen transport via erosion (g/ha/year) was consistent with erosion results, being higher in the transitory crop (399.9) and permanent crop (265.3) that in the oak forest (6.9) and pasture (6.8). These results indicate that converting forests affects the capacity of ecosystems to provide environmental services, which is further amplified by projections of climate change.

VULNERABILIDAD DE ESPECIES FORESTALES DE LA PENÍNSULA DE YUCATÁN ANTE FACTORES CLIMÁTICOS Y ANTROPOGÉNICOS

<p><strong>Background</strong>: The Yucatan Peninsula is covered mainly by semi-humid forests associated with karstic zones. These landscapes show high rates of endemism, and although they are resilient ecosystems, climatic variations place them as highly susceptible areas to climate change. <strong>Objective:</strong> To identify environmental and anthropogenic risk factors in the semi-humid forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, and to evaluate the vulnerability to climate change of 25 forest species with economic importance in this region. <strong>Methodology:</strong> A multi-criteria analysis was carried out to rank edaphic and climatic variables, changes in potential distribution due to climate change, species density and growing rate. These variables were integrated into a matrix and each variable was valued from 0 to 4, weighted between parameters, the higher the value, the greater the susceptibility. Four percent of the species were classified into the high-risk susceptibility and 84 % as medium risk and the rest as low. These species have a low density per hectare, have a restricted distribution, are slow growing and are over shallow soils. <strong>Implications: </strong>Species that can develop in a wide range of environmental conditions and have rapid growth rates were less susceptible to the risk factors analyzed here. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The greatest risk factor was due to the effect of climate change, followed by the proximity to the Caribbean coast and the type of soil, which suggests that more conservation actions for forest species are needed, which will also ensure the provision of environmental services to human populations.</p>

Percepção sobre a floresta urbana e sua influência para o bem-estar no ambiente de trabalho

Abstract Urban forests play an essential role in mitigating negative human actions over people’s quality of life. Trees provide well-being to populations since they enable the provision of several environmental services. Human perception about nature is essential to keep balance in cities’ development processes, according to which, natural environments are part of them. Thus, the aim of the current study is to analyze Technological Research Institute workers’ perception about its urban forest to support its management process. Results have evidenced the positive and negative influence of urban forests on the daily activities of local community in its work environment, based on the application of an online questionnaire. Participants have contributed to help improving environmental management at the Institute Campus, by proposing actions.

Natural Resource Conservation, Poverty Alleviation, and Farmer Partnership

Agriculture has now been seen in its multiple roles like contributing to development as an economic activity, source of livelihood, provider of environmental services and a unique instrument to overall development. As an economic activity, it is a source of growth for national economy, food security, foreign exchange as well as provider of investment opportunities for agro-based industries and rural non-farm economy. As source of livelihood, it provides jobs to majority of the people, especially the small holders, landless and the poor. In terms of environmental services, being the major player in underground water depletion, agrochemical pollution, soil exhaustion and global climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture can create good and bad environmental outcomes. Its environmental contributions in managing watersheds and preserving biodiversity are generally unrecognised and unremunerated. Agriculture has well established record as an instrument for poverty reduction1 as well as a leading sector for overall growth in the agriculture-based countries of the world [World Bank (2007)]. In future, agriculture has to commit more promises (e.g. bio-fuel) to the nation without compromising over primary responsibility of food security along with poverty alleviation, conservation of natural resource base, environment protection etc. Unfortunately, the agriculture has been vastly underused for development.

Analysis of Changes In Mangrove Cover Using Landsat Imagery In Seruyan District

Mangrove forests have a very important role as a provider of environmental services and economic support. The existence of mangrove forests in Seruyan Regency has suffered significant damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the most dominant type of mangrove landcover conversion and to calculate the rate of change. The method of analyzing changes in mangrove landcover using multitemporal Landsat images with visual classification. The classification accuracy test reached a value of 88%. The results of spatial analysis with a span of 41 years found a decrease in mangrove landcover area of 69% with an average rate of change of 71 hectares per year. The dominant cause of the decline in mangrove landcover is the landclearing of ponds, which has an average rate of change of 82 hectares per year. This activity has an impact on decreasing the diversity of mangrove vegetation types. In mangrove forests found at least two to five types of mangroves with sparse to dense densities, whereas in ponds as a result of pond clearing they are only found on the edge of ponds with sparse densities.

PENANAMAN MANGROVE SEBAGAI UPAYA PELESTARIAN EKOSISITEM PESISIR DI GAMPONG LAMTUTUI, PEUKAN BADA, KABUPATEN ACEH BESAR PROVINSI ACEH

Mangroves are biological natural resources that have the potential to provide benefits for human life and aquatic biota organisms. Mangrove ecosystems have ecological and economic functions in coastal areas. The Gampong Lamtutui area has an important role because it is a provider of natural resources and environmental services with great potential in terms of ecology, economy and tourism. So far, the activities that occur in the mangrove ecosystem area in Lamtutui have an unfavorable impact on the mangrove vegetation in that location, due to the large number of uses of the mangrove area for vannamei shrimp pond areas, so that the structure of mangrove vegetation at various growth levels changes. The purpose of this service is to raise awareness and motivation for the coastal communities of Gampong Lamtutui to replant mangroves as a form of concern for the preservation of coastal ecosystems. This service activity is carried out for two days, from October 30, 2021 to October 31, 2021. The location of this service is in Gampong Lamtutui, Peukan Bada District, Aceh Besar Regency. The method of activity used in this activity is counseling and mentoring mangrove planting. The results of this service activity are the planting of 1,000 stems of Rhizophora sonneratia mangrove tree seeds in Gampong Lamtutui, as well as the establishment of cooperation with a group of local fishermen for monitoring the mangrove trees that have been planted.

Development of Pinus Pengger Forest Geotourism in The Mangunan Protected Forest Area Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta

A Forests have many benefits, is as a provider of environmental services for geotourism. The development of geotourism in forest areas is Pinus Pengger, Bantul Regency. The development of Pinus Pengger geotourism must be evident and directed according to the principle of using sustainable geotourism environmental services. The Research was conducted to determine a sustainable geotourism management strategy beneficial and sustainable. The analysis uses the SWOT method, the data support of surveys, and information from various literature. The results of the research show that Pinus Pengger geotourism has a landscaping potential that supports it to be developed. The Pinus Pengger geotourism development strategy comprehensively prioritizes the preservation of the forest environment and involves the community. Sustainable geotourism development can ensure the sustainability of forests and still benefit the community.

Pendekatan Special Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit terhadap Daya Dukung Lingkungan di Kecamatan Anggaberi Kabupaten Konawe

The objectives of this study were (1) to identify the existing conditions of oil palm plantations in Anggaberi District, Konawe Regency (2) to analyze the condition of the carrying capacity of the environment in Anggaberi District, Konawe Regency (3) to formulate the concept of controlling environmental carrying capacity in Anggaberi District, Konawe Regency . This research was carried out through the stages of research methods including conducting studies on primary data and secondary data, namely the availability of geospatial information on the research area, D3TLH information, in the formulation of the concept of carrying capacity control. Based on the results of spatial identification, it shows that there are 2 villages and 1 sub-district that are the location for developing oil palm plantations in Anggaberi District, namely Andabia Village, Lerehoma Village, Wunduongohi Village, with a total area of 2500 Ha. The results of the analysis of environmental service index performance in Anggaberi District are divided into 5 (five) index classes, namely very low class, low, medium, high and very high class. The average carrying capacity index value of the provision, regulation and support ecosystem services in Konawe Regency, where the provision of environmental services ranges from 2.38 to 3.44 (low - high class), the regulatory environmental service index is in the range of 2.12 to 3.18 (low to medium class) and supporting environmental services index values ranging from 2.55 to 2.95 (low to medium class). In detail, the distribution of the index of carrying capacity for environmental services provision, regulation and support in Anggaberi District. The carrying capacity and carrying capacity of the region are highly dependent on the ability of the ecosystem to produce provision, maintenance and protection services. The ability of ecosystems to produce the services mentioned above is very dependent on the condition/state of the landscape or ecoregion conditions, the condition of the distribution of natural vegetation and the condition of land cover throughout the mainland of Konawe Regency. The combination of these three variables greatly determines the ability of ecosystems to produce services, both provisioning services, regulatory services and protection services.

Analysis of the Suitability and Supporting Capacity of Mangrove Ecotourism in Yenelo Lake, Sagea Village, North Weda District, Central Halmahera Regency

The mangrove area around Lake Yonelo is a unique and potential area, but the area tends to be threatened by increasing mining activities in the area. Management of the mangrove area around Lake Yenelo as an ecotourism area is an alternative form as an innovative effort to maintain environmental functions as a provider of environmental services in order to remain sustainable. The purpose of this study was to determine the suitability of the tourist area and the carrying capacity of the area as well as the types of activities in the mangrove ecotourism area. The method used is a survey method, using the analysis of the tourism suitability index (IKW) and the carrying capacity of the area (DDK). The results of the analysis of the suitability index of the Yenelo Lake area are classified as very suitable for developing mangrove ecotourism activities, while the results of the analysis of the carrying capacity of the area are 412 people/day with the carrying capacity of the utilization of 42 people/day with the types of activities, namely tracking, picnicking, sitting relaxed, photography and education in along 844 m of mangrove area. The contribution of this type of activity will provide new job opportunities for the community around the mine which will certainly affect the welfare level of the community around the mine in the North Weda District.

Forest Fires, Land Use Changes and Their Impact on Hydrological Balance in Temperate Forests of Central Mexico

Temperate forests play a fundamental role in the provision, regulation, and support of hydrological environmental services, but they are subject to constant changes in land use (clearing, overgrazing, deforestation, and forest fires) that upset the hydrological balance. Through scenarios simulated with the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) hydrological model, the present study analyzes the effects of forest fires and land use changes on the hydrological balance in the microwatersheds of central Mexico. The land use changes that took place between 1995 and 2021 were estimated, and projections based on the current scenario were made. Two trend scenarios were proposed for 2047: one with a positive trend (forest permanence) and the other with a negative trend (loss of cover from forest fires). The results show that with permanence or an increase in forest area, the surface runoff would decrease by 48.2%, increasing the base flow by 37% and the soil moisture by 2.3%. If forest is lost, surface runoff would increase up to 454%, and soil moisture would decrease by 27%. If the current forest decline trends continue, then there will be negative alterations in hydrological processes: a reduction in the interception of precipitation by the canopy and an increase in the velocity and flow of surface runoff, among others. The final result will be a lower amount of water being infiltrated into the soil and stored in the subsoil. The provision of hydrological environmental services depends on the maintenance of forest cover.

DIREITO AMBIENTAL E LICENCIAMENTO: A REESTRUTURAÇÃO DOS SERVIÇOS AMBIENTAIS DEPOIS DE 2006

This article deals with the various instruments that have been implemented in an attempt to mitigate the impacts of economic activities that are very recent. The projection of Law and Economics, brought together in Coase's analysis, opened a portal of debates that overcame the anachronism in both sciences. That said, this article aims to analyze the Provision of Environmental Services (PES) as a condition for the reduction or compensation of perceived environmental impacts in the environmental licensing process. Therefore, a considerable analysis of the environmental licensing procedure was carried out, with the subsequent conceptualization of the provision of environmental services, ending with the verification of the converging points between the themes. The methodology adopted was informative and bibliographical. The results and discussions showed that, although it is an instrument endowed with complexities, there are indeed possible alternatives for the implementation of the PES in environmental licensing, with the possibility of using direct or indirect means.

Land use/cover change analysis in the Mediterranean region: a regional case study of forest evolution in Castelló (Spain) over 50 years

The second half of the 20th century has been characterised by the rural abandonment in several regions of the Mediterranean basin. The general collapse of traditional agriculture and livestock activities brought about an intensive migration movement from inland to coastal areas, which produced a massive forest cover increase in abandoned rural areas. This socioeconomic, spatial and environmental change has led to a situation unknown for centuries in the Mediterranean landscapes. As a consequence, large wildfires have increased enormously in importance in a society with a predominant urban vision over the rest of the territory. Indeed, public opinion considers wildfires as major natural disturbances related to climate change causing at the end deforestation, while its prerequisite, a substantial increase of forest cover due to rural collapse, is less known. This research aimed to deepen the knowledge about forest evolution and its implications after the land abandonment process that started in the second half of the 20th century. The substantive source of information was obtained from a photointerpretation by sampling, using five general land-cover and land-use types and four specific land-cover types over a period of 50 years (1957–2007) in the province of Castelló (Valencian Region, Spain). Results showed that the area dominated by dense forests (shrublands and woodlands) has increased from 17% to 28%, and the area dominated by their transitional land uses after farming abandonment has increased from 8% to 21%. Transition matrices enabled a precise identification of changes among dominant categories over the studied period. Random and systematic transitions between categories have been analysed and a map of forest evolution pathways could be drawn, in which a double alternative path was identified. In the general context of progressive evolution to dense forests in the Mediterranean region, we have also found different evolution rates which may depend on site conditions. Their specific soil and climatic factors should be further analysed in order to improve our understanding of future forest evolution in the Mediterranean region at a local scale. A robust knowledge of these processes will contribute to improve forest management and land-use planning while optimising resilience, carbon storage and the provision of environmental services.

Integrating Economic Value of Environmental Services and Carbon Stock: A Case Study from Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park

As a conservation area, national parks play essential roles in environmental services provision and have the potential to support the REDD+ program. This study aims to estimate appropriate incentives for national parks based on carbon units by integrating the economic value of environmental services and carbon stock provided by the lowland dry forest ecosystem in Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park (BNWNP) consisted of North Sulawesi and Gorontalo areas. Carbon stock was estimated by establishing sample plots, including five carbon pools. While the economic valuation of environmental services includes biodiversity using the market approach, ecotourism using the zonal travel cost method, and water service using simulation water regulation services method and market approach. The total ecosystem carbon stock in BNWNP is estimated at 73.67 Mton. Meanwhile, the estimation of the economic value of environmental services is about IDR 70.57 trillion. Based on these results, the appropriate carbon values are IDR 683,308 and IDR 1,304,238 per ton carbon for the lowland dry forest ecosystem in Gorontalo and North Sulawesi areas. This result indicates that given its essential environmental services, the incentive for protecting national parks may exceed the carbon value used in result-based payment scheme in REDD+ initiatives that have been implemented.

Payment for Environmental Services for Waste Pickers: Systematic Literature Mapping

In Payment for Environmental Services (PES) systems, environmental service providers receive compensation for a conservationist action that implies the preservation of natural resources. The objective of this systematic mapping was to identify and discuss scientific articles that address the theme 'Payment for Environmental Services - PES for Waste Pickers Organizations', to understand the state of art of hiring these workers as environmental service providers. The study was developed using the method of systematic mapping of literature, from 2009 to 2019, considering qualitative and quantitative aspects. Results indicated that the countries that most investigate this theme are Brazil, China, India, and Indonesia. The articles portray the informal work of waste pickers, working conditions and the transition from informal systems to waste management in public services. The relationship between payment for environmental services and the work of waste pickers is not yet evident. Furthermore, research on PES and recycling are developed along distinct lines, without interdisciplinarity. However, PES shows itself as an important socio-environmental management tool that has the potential to solve relevant problems of recyclable waste management, because it presents congruent characteristics with the public procurement systems for waste pickers.

Valuation of Ecosystem Services in South Africa, 2001–2019

Although changes in ecosystems in response to climate and land-use change are known to have implications for the provision of different environmental and ecosystem services, quantifying the economic value of some of these services can be problematic and has not been widely attempted. Here, we used a simplified raster remote sensing model based on MODIS data across South Africa for five different time slices for the period 2001–2019. The aims of the study were to quantify the economic changes in ecosystem services due to land degradation and land-cover changes based on areal values (in USD ha−1 yr−1) for ecosystem services reported in the literature. Results show progressive and systematic changes in land-cover classes across different regions of South Africa for the time period of analysis, which are attributed to climate change. Total ecosystem service values for South Africa change somewhat over time as a result of land-use change, but for 2019 this calculated value is USD 437 billion, which is ~125% of GDP. This is the first estimation of ecosystem service value made for South Africa at the national scale. In detail, changes in land cover over time within each of the nine constituent provinces in South Africa mean that ecosystem service values also change regionally. There is a clear disparity between the provinces with the greatest ecosystem service values when compared to their populations and contribution to GDP. This highlights the potential for untapped ecosystem services to be exploited as a tool for regional sustainable development.