Emad Zakeri; Hamidreza karimzadeh; Seyed Alireza Mousavi; mohammad ghorbani
Abstract
Rangelands provide a diverse array of vital services that pertain to human life. But market failure to consider the value of these ecosystem services has disturbed provision of many ecosystem services. In this study the economic value of water conservation functions by Arnaveh basin located in northwestern ...
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Rangelands provide a diverse array of vital services that pertain to human life. But market failure to consider the value of these ecosystem services has disturbed provision of many ecosystem services. In this study the economic value of water conservation functions by Arnaveh basin located in northwestern Iran was estimated. Rainfall-runoff simulation was carried out by using Curve Number (CN) method. Also by means of Replacement Cost method the value of the hydrological services were quantified. The role of vegetation cover in water conservation was estimated by comparing the surface runoff under current condition and uncovered soil conditions. Moreover the role of rangelands on water retention and surface runoff reduction by devising three more hypothetical scenarios and then the effects of land use changes associated with these scenarios on rainfall-runoff rate of the region were compared. Results showed that the role of rangelands vegetation cover in water conservation and surface runoff reduction was 7.19×106 m3, with the economic value of 123×109 IRR. Also, the results of a comparing between 3 hypothetical scenarios and current conditions showed that, under the case of scenario one which assumes that the entire of rangelands area is becoming to rain-fed farming, total outflow would be in the maximum amount and the most negative effects will accrue. Also the scenarios of improvement of vegetation cover to 25-50 percent has the most positive effects (1.95×106 m3 yr-1 decrease) on water retention. The results of this study could help decision-makers in selecting appropriate and economically feasible development strategies.
Seyed Alireza Mousavi; Hossein Arzani; Gholamali Sharzei; Hossein Azarnivand; Mahdi Farahpour; Stephani Engel; Esmail Alizadeh; Aliakbar Nazari-Samani
Abstract
Soil conservation is one of the most important regulative functions of natural ecosystems. This function is of high importance in Taleghan Watershed due to high erosion quantity and sediment accumulation in Taleghan Dam reservoir. Soil loss reduction, sedimentation control and fertility conservation ...
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Soil conservation is one of the most important regulative functions of natural ecosystems. This function is of high importance in Taleghan Watershed due to high erosion quantity and sediment accumulation in Taleghan Dam reservoir. Soil loss reduction, sedimentation control and fertility conservation were considered as different aspects of soil conservation. Effect of land use and vegetation cover on soil conservation was studied by overlaying soil erosion map with other environmental data layers. Abandoned rainfed lands with low cover were considered as benchmark to evaluate the role of rangeland vegetation cover in soil conservation. Economic value of soil loss reduction function was estimated using opportunity cost approach and the benefits of rainfed agriculture. Economic value of sedimentation control also was calculated considering SDR ratio and avoided cost approach. Soil fertility conservation was quantified regarding the volume of soil conserved and nutrient content of soils of the study area. Economic value of this function was estimated using replacement cost approach. Results show that Mid-Taleghan rangelands conserve 60545 cubic meters of soil per annum. Annual economic value of soil loss reduction, sedimentation control and fertility conservation functions were estimated about 6262, 25287 and 8626 US dollars, respectively. These functions are just some limited aspects of rangeland functions and economic valuation of these functions could effectively be utilized for conservation of rangeland ecosystems.
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Shafagh Rastgar; Ali Darijani; Hossein Barani; Mohammad Ghorbani; Jamshid Ghorbani; Vahed Bordi Sheikh
Abstract
Forage is the main product of rangelands. So, determining its economic value as one of the main important nonmonetary functions can help managers to improve planning and optimal utilization management of rangelands. The main purpose of this study is to estimate the economic valuation of the forage of ...
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Forage is the main product of rangelands. So, determining its economic value as one of the main important nonmonetary functions can help managers to improve planning and optimal utilization management of rangelands. The main purpose of this study is to estimate the economic valuation of the forage of summer rangelands in Nour-roud watershed basin in Mazandaran province. Consequently, total forage production estimated by using double method in 12 unit works. According to the heterogeneity of range forages in terms of economic and lacking organized market for transaction, have been used barely and using Replacement Cost Method (RCM). In order to homogenize the value of all forage plants, Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) of each plant multiplied to its forage product to calculate the nutrition value of forage per rangeland unit work. According to the specified T.D.N of barely, the equivalent weight of barely, identified for each range/ha in different price scenarios (guaranteed, international and farm prices), total value of forage production calculated based on barely price. Results showed that, Forage yield equivalent to barely was estimated 276.5 kg per ha of 89826.7 usable summer rangelands. Its economic value was equivalent to 713280 Rials per hectare. Also, its average annual economic value by 3 price senarios estimated, 64.6 Milyard Rials. This amount of economic value was equal to 718900 Rials per hectare of Nour-rud rangelands. Also, the estimated forage values are only 25 percentage of total economic value of rangeland ecosystem that has been exploited as natural bequest without any investment.
