Valuation Database Research Articles

Modeling market value of land plots using GIS

This work examines the regulatory framework for expert monetary valuation of land plots. Scientific research on the development and improvement of economic-statistical methods for mass monetary valuation of land plots is analyzed. The peculiarities and advantages of using GIS in the valuation procedure are considered. A structure of the valuation database is developed for the effective selection of comparable plots during valuation by comparing sales prices and market analysis. The valuation database is formed based on data on land plot sales. Price formation factors are analyzed in order to construct an economic-statistical model of market value for land plots in Rivne. Scales of indicator values are proposed for formalizing the assessment of price formation factors. Functions of the ArcGIS are used to establish indicator values. The market value of land plots is modeled using multiple regression analysis. Additionally, a surface of land plot values is constructed, which serves to determine the approximate market value. The model has been verified using GIS tools. An accuracy assessment of the developed model has been carried out.

Mega project impact on urban growth and ecosystem service

In an effort to forecast and estimate the value of ecosystem services (ESVs) and land use and land cover changes (LULC), recent global events and research have centered on the evaluation of LULC. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an integrated approach using multi-layer perceptron-Markov chain analysis (MLP-MCA) and remote sensing data for monitoring land use and land cover (LULC) changes. The study area comprises the three Bangladeshi upazilas that the Padma Bridge connects: Shariatpur, Louhajang, and Janjira. The Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) was used to evaluate the impacts of changes in land use and land cover (LULC) on Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs). The LULC of the study area was estimated for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020, and the forecast period for urban development was 2030 and 2040. Additionally, the monetary value of ecosystem services was evaluated across the time. As per the LULC change analysis, there is a projected 4.35% growth in the built-up area from 2000 to 2020. After the bridge is constructed, the built-up area is projected to increase by 7% in 2030 and 14% in 2040, according to the forecast. The exponential expansion of developed land has a paradoxical effect on the value of ecosystem services. From 2020 to 2040, it is expected that the ESVs for provision, regulation, culture, and support will experience a reduction of approximately 213.24 million USD/ha. Even if the establishment of a bridge results in economic stability and investment attraction for the nation, unforeseen ecosystem service losses cannot contribute to long-term, sustainable development. This study, by establishing a correlation between urban area expansion and the deterioration of ecosystem services, can serve as a standard and basis for guiding management decisions.

Impacts of Land use Land cover dynamics on Ecosystem services in maze national park and its environs, southwestern Ethiopia

This study investigated the impacts of LULC changes on selected ecosystem services in Maze National Park (MzNP) and its environs in southwestern Ethiopia. Landsat images from 1985, 2005, and 2020 were used to examine land use land cover (LULC) changes. Images were classified using the Random Forest (RF) classifier, and their accuracy was computed in QGIS. Ecosystem service values (ESVs) were then estimated using the benefit transfer method employing Ecosystem Service Valuation Database (ESVD) coefficients. Additionally, socioeconomic survey was conducted to understand the local community's perceptions regarding the dynamics of ecosystem services. The findings revealed a significant increase in croplands (103.7 %) and built-up areas (31.32 %), while riverine forests, water bodies, and wooded grasslands declined. The overall ESVs decreased by 20 %, from 2038.42 million USD in 1985 to 1628.72 million USD in 2020, mainly driven by reductions in riverine forests and wooded grasslands. As for the individual ESVs for the period 1985 to 2020, only food production increased by 0.7 million USD, while water supply, climate regulation, raw materials, and recreation and tourism declined by 180.35, 2.67, 45.72, and 481.62 million USD, respectively. The coefficient of sensitivity ranged from 0.01 to 0.94, <1, revealed that our estimates are relatively robust. Ecosystem services such as grazing, recreation, wild food, and firewood are highly valued by local residents, but they are declining over time due to environmental degradation and restrictions on access to the park. Thus, understanding LULC changes and their impacts on ESVs can help decision-makers design effective protected area management plans and reduce potential conflicts over resource uses. Further investigations are suggested to more accurately quantify ESVs using high resolution satellite imageries and different valuation methods.

Integrating ecosystem services and life cycle assessment: a framework accounting for local and global (socio-)environmental impacts

PurposeHuman activities put pressure on our natural ecosystems in various ways, such as globally through the spread of emissions or locally through the degradation of species-rich landscapes. However, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies that integrate ecosystem services (ES) are still in the minority because of intrinsic differences in data, modelling, and interpretation. This study aims to overcome these challenges by developing and testing a framework that comprehensively evaluates the (socio-)environmental impacts of human activities.MethodsLCA and ecosystem services assessment (ESA) were integrated in two different ways: (1) both methodologies run in parallel and results are combined, and (2) LCA as a driving method where ES are integrated. Because local ESA studies contain the most accurate information but will not be available for all processes in the value chain, it was necessary to advance the life cycle impact assessment method ReCiPe 2016 including three new midpoint impact categories (terrestrial provision, regulation, and cultural ES) and site-generic CFs based on the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database to account for changes in regulating, cultural and provisioning ES due to land use, for the remaining processes in the value chain. Monetary valuation is used to aggregate at the areas of protection (AoP).Results and discussionA comprehensive LCA+ES-ESA sustainability assessment framework is developed to account for local and global impacts due to human activities on three AoPs (natural resources, ecosystem quality, and human health and well-being), of which the results are expressed in monetary terms. The framework is able to visualize all benefits and burdens accounted for through the handprint/footprint approach. A simplified terrestrial case study on Scots pinewood shows the applicability of the proposed framework, resulting in a handprint (€2022 9.81E+02) which is four times larger than the footprint (€2022 2.31E+02) for 1 kg of wood produced. Challenges related to the framework such as data availability and database shortcomings (i.e., beyond land use) and ES interrelations are discussed.ConclusionWhile classical LCA studies focus more on burdens, this framework can also take into account benefits, such as the provision of ecosystem services (or the value of the functional unit of the study). Although the integration of both LCA and ESA has been increasingly explored recently, until now no framework has been available that can incorporate results from local ESA, site-specific ESA, and classical LCA studies, which is considered highly relevant to decision-making.

Comparative Valuation of Three Ecosystem Services in a Canadian Watershed Using Global, Regional, and Local Unit Values

Economic valuations of ecosystem services often transfer previously estimated global unit values to the geographical setting of interest. While this approach produces quick results, its reliability depends on how representative the large-scale average unit values are for the given local context. Here, we estimate the values of three ecosystem services (ES)—water filtration, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration—in the Grand River watershed (GRW) of southern Ontario, Canada. The watershed covers nearly 7000 km2, has a humid continental climate and a population of close to one million people. Land cover is dominated by agriculture. We compare ES valuations using locally derived (i.e., GRW-specific) unit values to valuations based on unit values from a regional database and those compiled in the global Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD). The regional database includes mean unit values from three case studies within southern Ontario and one boreal watershed in British Columbia. As expected, the regional database yields average monetary values for the three ES that are close to those obtained using the local unit values but with larger associated uncertainties. Using the ESVD, however, results in significantly higher monetary values for the ES. For water filtration, the ESVD value is more than five times higher than the regional and local estimates. We further illustrate the effect of the extent of aggregation of forested and agricultural land categories on the ES values. For example, by subdividing the forest category into three subcategories (deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forest), the estimated value of the carbon sequestration service from forested areas within the GRW decreases by 7%. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of critically assessing the origin of unit values and the land cover resolution in ES valuation, especially when ES valuation is used as a policy-guiding tool.

On the potential use of the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database for valuation in the System of Environmental Economic Accounting

The System of Environmental Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) provides a framework for quantifying and valuing ecosystem services that is consistent with the System of National Accounts (SNA). As such, monetary estimates for ecosystem services are required to be measured as exchange values. The environmental economics literature on the value of ecosystem services has expanded consideralby over the past two decades and the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) currently provides the most comprehensive collection and synthesis of this information. The primary valuation studies included in the ESVD, however, measure a variety of value concepts including welfare values, exchange values and others. This raises a challenge for using existing value data as input to SEEA EA applications. This paper explores potential approaches to using the ESVD for value transfers that are consistent with SEEA EA, specifically for the estimation of meta-analytic value functions that can be used to reflect spatial variation in supply and demand of ecosystem services and proxy exchange values. It identifies avenues for future research and development of the ESVD to operationalise and test this approach.

Economic Evaluation of the Selected Ecologically Significant Element in Agriculture

Ecologically significant elements are essential not only for the development and quality of life in rural areas, but also for agricultural management. Services provided by these ecosystems ensure water retention in the landscape, a protection against erosion and an increase in biodiversity. In the context of current political debates, the importance and necessity of highlighting the value of ecologically significant elements is desirable from the farmer's point of view. This study inquires into costs and benefits while implementing a selected ecologically significant element - landscaping orchard in an agricultural area, taking into account not only the explicit benefits that could be marketed, but also the benefits floating from the ecosystem services. The case study found out that whilst complying with the general conditions to be able to apply for the State subsidies with the value of ecosystem services, the Net Present Value is positive for the given project. The monetary value of ecosystem services provided by the given landscaping orchard is estimated to be, according to Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (2020), 125 thous. CZK.year-1 per 1.6 ha. That is a considerable amount which should be noted not only by the farmers but also by the policy makers who should reconsider the subsidies for farmers and pay more attention to their financial needs.

On the investigation of an economic value for forest ecosystem services in the past 30 years: Lessons learnt and future insights from a North–South perspective

Since the publication of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the research of ecosystem services valuation has seen an exponential growth with a consequent development, improvement, and spread of different qualitative and quantitative methods. The interest is due to the benefits that ecosystem services provide for human wellbeing. A large part of ecosystem services is provided by the so-called forest ecosystem services (FES) in both protected and non-protected areas. The aim of the present study is to investigate key variables driving the FES value at the global level. These include, other than socio-economic information, the ecosystem services' quality condition and the location of the study. The research uses a meta-regression of 478 observations from 57 studies in the time span 1992–2021 retrieved from the online Ecosystem Service Valuation Database (ESVD). The main results show that both the ES quality condition and spatial aspect are relevant factors in determining the estimated value of FES, suggesting the existence of a difference in the forest value from a North-South perspective. The investigation of an economic assessment of FES is advised as a key research trend in the immediate future. This allows to close the gap between the global North and South and favors the implementation of adequate socio-economic and environmental governance for an efficient forest management.

Ecosystem health, ecosystem services, and the well-being of humans and the rest of nature.

An ecosystem is healthy if it is active, maintains its organization and autonomy over time, and is resilient to stress. Healthy ecosystems provide human well-being via ecosystem services, which are produced in interaction with human, social, and built capital. These services are affected by different ecosystem stewardship schemes. Therefore, society should be aiming for ecosystem health stewardship at all levels to maintain and improve ecosystem services. We review the relationship between ecosystem health and ecosystem services, based on a logic chain framework starting with (1) a development or conservation policy, (2) a management decision or origin of the driver of change, (3) the driver of change itself, (4) the change in ecosystem health, (5) the change in the provision of ecosystem services, and (6) the change in their value to humans. We review two case studies to demonstrate the application of this framework. We analyzed 6,131 records from the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) and found that in approximately 58% of the records data on ecosystem health were lacking. Finally, we describe how the United Nations' System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) incorporates ecosystem health as part of efforts to account for natural capital appreciation or depreciation at the national level. We also provide recommendations for improving this system.

A preliminary estimate of the economic value of Iceland's terrestrial ecosystem services and opportunities for future research

Iceland is an understudied nation with respect to the quality, quantity and value of its ecosystem services, despite the growth of nature-based tourism and an economy reliant on abundant natural resources, especially fish stocks and renewable energy. This research reports on the preliminary outcome of an investigation to estimate the economic value of Iceland's ecosystem services (ES). The benefit transfer method is applied using the latest aggregate unit values from the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database, scaled to CORINE land cover types for Iceland. An estimate of 3,209,476 million ISK/year (approximately US $26.1 billion/year) is determined in 2019 prices, which is 1.08 times the size of Icelandic Gross Domestic Product and could be a low estimate due to the omission of cultural ES. Rather than being the final word on the value of Iceland's ecosystem services, this assessment should be viewed as an order of magnitude estimate, a useful starting point for considering the biomes and related ES of likely high economic value in Iceland, which in turn provides a basis for considering potential ES management issues of importance. The study discusses how economic valuation of Iceland's ecosystem services could provide useful information to decision-makers in a range of hotly discussed areas, including the determination of conservation policy, strategic energy management and sustainable land management. The results of this study also imply that there would be merit in conducting a national ES assessment for Iceland, which would integrate extensive stakeholder, biophysical and economic analyses to provide a comprehensive evidence base concerning the benefits supplied to society and how ES underpin the nation's economic prosperity.

A proposed framework for economic valuation and assessment of damages cost to national wetlands ecosystem services using the benefit-transfer approach

Wetland valuation is a policy tool available to environmental planners and policy-makers to justify the general costs of wetland preservation activities. Because there is no integrated procedure for valuing goods and services in the country, this article is the first attempt in Iran to provide a comprehensive yet simple and practical framework on how to value ecosystem goods and services. Estimating the cost of damage to ecosystem services can be effective in preventing further damage to wetland ecosystems. The study aims to propose a framework for estimating the environmental costs of development activities and estimating the damage to the values of the wetland ecosystem services within the direct and indirect effects of development activities. The benefit transfer method was used to estimate the values of ecosystem services of each land use/land cover (LULC) class and damage costs to ecosystem goods and services provided by wetlands. Using the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD), the coefficients of the average values of ecosystem services for the country over a period of one year were estimated using the equation for adjusting the overall price levels. The mean values of ecosystem services per hectare of coastal and inland wetlands were updated based on the price levels in 2021. Then the corresponding values were adjusted for Iran. The sum of the “means” of the adjusted ecosystem service values per hectare for the Iranian coastal mangrove wetland ecosystems and inland wetland ecosystems are estimated to be 67,665 USD and 42,171 USD, respectively.

A Global Meta-Analysis for Estimating Local Ecosystem Service Value Functions

The Meta-analysis has increasingly been used to synthesize the ecosystem services literature, with some testing of the use of such analyses to transfer benefits. These are typically based on local primary studies. However, meta-analyses associated with ecosystem services are a potentially powerful tool for transferring benefits, especially for environmental assets for which no primary studies are available. In this study we use the Ecosystem Service Valuation Database (ESVD), which brings together 1350 value estimates from more than 320 studies around the world, to estimate meta-regression functions for Provisioning, Regulating and maintenance, and Cultural ecosystem services across 12 biomes. We tested the reliability of these meta-regression functions and found that even using variables with high explanatory power, transfer errors could still be large. We show that meta-analytic transfer performs better than simple value transfer and, in addition, that local meta-analytical transfer (i.e., based on local explanatory variable values) provides more reliable estimates than global meta-analytical transfer (i.e., based on mean global explanatory variable values). Thus, we conclude that when taking into account the characteristics of the study area under analysis, including explanatory variables such as income, population density, and protection status, we can determine the value of ecosystem services with greater accuracy.

The cost effectiveness of aging in place: A literature review

The objective of this paper is to discover the evidence supporting or refuting the cost-effectiveness of Assisted Living Technology (ALT) in aging in place of older adults through a comprehensive presentation of cost studies and economic analyses. The search was conducted on two main databases for health economic valuation: The NHS economic valuation database (NHS EED) and the health economic valuation database (HEED). The study was evaluated using the protocol required by Campbell and Cochrane Economic Methods. As an aging society evolves, the need for long-term care services increases. The prevalence of chronic diseases increases in the older population; seniors may have to abandon their bative social life and need long-term care in a nursing home. Aging is a global phenomenon. Asia is aging rapidly. By 2030, the number of Asians aged 65 and over will increase from the current 300 million to 565 million. By 2050, this number will increase to 900 million, about one-sixth of the number of people in Asia. Aging trends are regional, but demographic changes are diverse. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China, whose populations are steadily aging, are in extreme situations. Research has shown that ALT can reduce costs in some cases, but with little precise data and low quality. Later developments, e.g., capacity methods, should be used for further research. Qualitative research is needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of ALT before making reliable conclusions about the application.

Using Machine Learning Methods to Estimate the Cost of Housing

Introduction. Nowadays, the state has enshrined at the legislative level the definition of appraised value for tax purposes in sales of real estate as mandatory. The comparative approach most often used by appraisers has disadvantages such as the inability to find analogues in some cases and the need to make corrections, which affects the reliability of the results. The module of electronic determination of appraisal value (Module) similar to the object of property appraisal of the Unified database of appraisal reports works on the same approach and quite often overestimates appraisal value that leads to increase in the size of the tax during sales as the real estate cannot be sold for the price less than the estimated cost. Today to determine the price of an automated system correctly, it is necessary to fill the Unified Valuation Database in the State Property Fund with large knowledge bases - a huge IT system. So far, the thoughtless machine still determines the price by the average value. Currently there are often situations when the appraised value of real estate, determined by the Module, exceeds its real market value. Given that the approach used by the Valuation Module does not always give the correct result, there is a need to find a better method to determine the value of housing that could be used by the Module. The purpose of the paper. In this paper, an approach based on fuzzy logic was used to estimate the cost of housing in Kyiv. Fuzzy methods allow to apply a linguistic description of complex processes, to establish fuzzy relationships between concepts, to predict the behavior of the system, to create a set of alternative actions, to formally describe fuzzy decision-making rules. Results. The software implementation of the model in Python programming language was performed. Data for modeling were taken for the period July – October 2020 from a single database of property valuation reports. The sample contained 2133 records, it was filtered, divided into training and testing in the proportion of 85 : 15. To assess the quality of the program, the average relative error of the developed model was calculated. Keywords: fuzzy logic, machine learning, Python programming, linguistic variables, predictive model.

Способи гарантування економічної безпеки держави з використанням практичного досвіду митних служб деяких країн світу

Annotation. Introduction. As fraudulent trade on the whole and misdeclaration peculiarly are regarded to be the most negative factors influencing national and world economics, the effective measures to counteract their disadvantageous impact are of great importance. Problem of misinvoicing has been studied by many researchers including special investigations undertaken by international anti-fraud organizations such as European Anti-Fraud Office, Global Integrity and others. Scientific theoretical and empirical methods of research are usually used, such as comparative analysis and mathematical statistics, which illuminated a lot of evidence facts of over and under invoicing by export and import used to move money across the borders, evade taxes or reduce tax liabilities. Purposee. The objective of this research is to analyze promising approaches of different countries used to combat fraud and ensure safe international trade as well as define the most effective instruments which should be implemented by the State Customs Service of Ukraine to ensure enhancing the customs valuation control measures. Methods. To accomplish the research task, general scientific methods were applied, such as inductive logic, comparative analysis, classification and generalisation. Results. The World Customs Organization concept of effective and transparent revenue collection is comprehensively examined in this paper focusing special attention on the implementation of international requirements to customs valuation procedure in Ukraine. Certain practical instruments were proposed to diminish the destructive effects and enhance the efficiency of customs control facilities. The main stages of creation and introduction of the national customs valuation database of goods as an effective tool of risks-oriented customs control are investigated. Shortcomings of the existing mechanisms affecting the feasibility of practical implementation of such elements in Ukraine are identified. The necessity of transformation of the existing system of customs value control is evidenced in the view of ensuring economic and customs security of the state and simplifying foreign trade procedures. Good practices of other countries on overcoming and stopping fraudulent importers’ activities are examined and the possibility of introducing their elements into customs authorities of Ukraine is studied. Conclusions. The article identifies the main directions of ensuring the effective functioning of the customs risk management system in the field of customs valuation control in Ukraine. The possibilities of the implementation model proposed by WCO has been estimated. The advantages and disadvantages of different types of price databases used by customs authorities of other countries have been revealed in the article. The main assumptions concerning the development of customs valuation control strategies have been evidenced by good practice cases. As a result a promising strategy is outlined for the development of new methods of customs valuation control in Ukraine. Keywords: customs valuation; control, fair prices; national customs declarations database.

RELIABILITY OF UNDERINVOICING REVEALING METHODS: CASE STUDY UKRAINE

Goods mispricing in international trade is regarded as customs fraud according to the WCO typology and reveals itself as a great challenge for customs and tax bodies all over the world. Revenue losses, tax avoidance, mispricing and other types of fraud create significant obstacles in the development of the social sphere, especially in the government programs implementing, which in the long run has a very negative impact on the investment climate and the development of national economies in general. Empirical data are examined to estimate accuracy and reliability of certain methods of statistical analysis in the context of targeted control enhancing. The benefits of multistage approach are shown, which can be used to reveal possible violations of customs law and prevent significant under-invoicing of imported goods. The objective of this research is to study the basic features of the most widely applied methods of abnormal pricing estimation and to examine a possibility to combine two mainly applied approaches to enhance robustness of the obtained data and credibility of the analysis results. An attempt is made to define basic efficient tool which could be used by customs authorities for further development of customs value control strategy. To accomplish the research task, general scientific methods are applied, such as inductive logic, comparative and statistical analysis as well as generalisation. The main points of widely applied mirror data analysis and price filter method are examined focusing special attention on the shortcomings and ways to diminish possible mistakes. Crucial role of appropriate statistical data and other available information using is shown to reveal potential underinvoicing, tax avoidance and other fraudulent trade activities. Possibilities of the two-staged statistical analysis of customs value indices as risks-oriented mechanism in national customs valuation database are investigated. The calculated figures show noticeable discrepancies in customs values declared at export and import. The paper identifies advantages of multistage analysis of available trade statistics data to facilitate the customs valuation control targeting and further process automation.

The Arbitrary Rejection of the Declared Value by the Customs Administration

Valuation disputes are on an upsurge in all jurisdictions, India being no different. The collection of customs duties is directly proportionate to the rate of Customs Duty and level of enforcement. To maximize collection of customs duties, customs authorities in all jurisdictions work with revenue bias while enforcing domestic laws, safeguarding national security, implementing effective controls and confirming to so called trade facilitation. The declared value in an import transaction is often rejected arbitrarily by customs officers relying on various risk assessment tools including national valuation data base under plea of contemporaneous imports at higher value without any objectivity and prudence. International Customs Valuation Rules, Arbitrary rejection of transaction value, loading of declared value of imported goods, related party transactions, the Customs Act, 1962 and the Customs Valuation (Determination of Price of Imported Goods) Rules.

Patent valuation techniques: practical uses in Thailand

Selecting an appropriate method for establishing the value of a patent and validating the valuation outcome is crucial and practical guidelines on the subject are scarce in Thailand. Therefore, this research presents the valuation methods and validation techniques used by experts in the country. The qualitative approach can be applied as a valuation guideline before moving onto the detailed monetary aspects. This research recommends the use of a pooled valuation database to assist valuators who do not have an adequate financial background using historical data as a market reference. For valuators possessing the necessary skills, the pooled database can be used to crosscheck different valuation methods. This will motivate the market approach and produce a benchmarking value process when valuators retrieve patent characteristics and applications to match the value indicators in the database. The ultimate valuation derived from the database can be benchmarked with a comparable patent, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Ecosystem Service Values Changes in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia.

Despite their importance as sources of ecosystem services supporting the livelihoods of millions of people, forest ecosystems have been changing into other land use systems over the past decades across the world. While forest cover change dynamics have been widely documented in various ecological systems, how these changes affect ecosystem service values has received limited attention. In this study we assessed the impact of land-use/land-cover dynamics on ecosystem service values in dry Afromontane forest in Northern Ethiopia. We estimated ecosystem service values and their changes based on the benefit transfer method using land cover data of the years 1985, 2000, and 2016 with their corresponding locally valid value coefficients and from the Ecosystem service valuation database. The total ecosystem service values of the whole study area were about USD 16.6, 19.0, and 18.1 million in 1985, 2000, and 2016, respectively. The analyses indicated an increase in ecosystem service values from 1985 to 2000 and a decrease in ecosystem service values from 2000 to 2016. Similarly, the contribution of specific ecosystem services increased in the first study period and decreased in the second study period. The findings highlight how forest cover dynamics can be translated into changes in ecosystem service values in dry Afromontane forest ecosystems in Northern Ethiopia and showed how specific ecosystem services contributed to the observed trends. The findings also illustrated the temporal heterogeneity in the impacts of land-use/land-cover dynamics on values of ecosystem services. The findings can serve as crucial inputs for policy and strategy formulations for the sustainable use and management of forest resources and can also guide the allocation of limited resources among competing demands to safeguard the ecosystems that offer the best-valued services.

Variation in Ecosystem Service Values in an Agroforestry Dominated Landscape in Ethiopia: Implications for Land Use and Conservation Policy

Human pressure on a rugged and fragile landscape can cause land use/cover changes that significantly alter the provision of ecosystem services. Estimating the multiple services, particularly those obtained from agroforestry systems, is seldom attempted. A combined approach of geospatial technology, cross-sectional field investigations, and economic valuation of natural capital was used to develop an ecosystem service valuation (ESV) model to estimate changes in ESV between 1986 and 2015 in southern Ethiopia. Over 120 values were sourced, mainly from an ecosystem service valuation database and allied sources, to establish value coefficients via benefit transfer method. Our 1848 km2 study landscape, with eight land use categories, yielded an annual total ESV of $129 × 106 in 1986 and $147 × 106 in 2015, a 14.2% ($18.3 million) increase in three decades, showing its relative resilience. Yet we observed losses of natural vegetation classes whose area and/or value coefficients were too small to offset their increased value from expanding agroforestry and wetland/marshes, which have the largest cover share and highest economic value, respectively. Appreciating the unique features of agroforests, we strongly recommend that their economic value is studied as a separate ecosystem for further valuation accuracy improvement.