International Workshop - Session 2

The valuation on forest ecosystem services and biodiversity in DiebuCounty, China

Presented by Dr. HU Lile

International Workshop on Eco-city and Biodiversity Session 2: Biodiversity

The valuation on forest ecosystem services and biodiversityin Diebu County, China*Xiushan LI 1), Dianxia FU 2)

1) Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, CRAES, China2) Gansu Agriculture University, GAU, China

*Corresponding author (xiushanli@craes.org.cn)

Keywords: Diebu County; Forest ecosystem service; Biodiversity; Valuation assessment;Conservation measure

IntroductionForest ecosystem is the most important terrestrial ecosystem type. It provides mankind with

wood, forest products and husbandry products. It also plays environmental regulation functions, for instance, soil and water conservation, climate regulation, clean air, sequestration of carbon and release of oxygen, maintenance biodiversity, prevention and control disasters. In addition, it also supports cultural values, such as landscape aesthetics, spiritual, religion, education and indigenous knowledge and so on. In recent years, the evaluation of forest ecosystem has risen widespread attention byscholarsand decision maker.

To protect and recovery the forest ecosystem and biodiversity, the valuation of the forest ecosystem services and biodiversity of Diebu Country was assessed by method methods of market price, replacement cost, benefits transfer, contingent valuation and so on, for the purpose of enhancing the people’s recognition and knowledge on the valuation of forest ecosystem services and biodiversity, and to provide theory basis to decision maker.

Diebu Country, which located in the south of Gansu Province and the forest coverage rate reached 61.61%, is a forestry county at upstream of Bailong River. The large areas of virgin forest covered in that land has lots of functions. But due to heavy and long-term logging from the 1960’s to 1990’s, the ecosystem service was decreased and biodiversity was lost apparently.

Classification and monetary methods of forest ecosystem service are shown in Table 1.Table 1 Categories of forest ecosystem service and monetary methods

Service type Goods and service Monetary method

provision

Raw material: wood, medicinal plants, Market priceFood: husbandry products, honey, vegetable,Energy: fuel, water energyOther: flower, nursery stock

Regulation

Water conservation: regulation of water

Water purification

U =10C A(P-E-C

U =10KA(P-E-C)Soil maintenance

Soil nutrition

Restoration cost: 50Yuan/ m3

Fertilizer Market price: ii

n

ii pppdsV 32

11f

Carbon sequestrationOxygen production

Carbon exchange rate:20.4$/t, afforestation cost, on average 199,61 /tIndustry Oxygen production and afforestation cost on average, 384.85Yuan/t

Air purification: product negative oxygen ion

Absorb air pollutants

U =5.256×1015×AHK Q -600 /LU =K Q AU =K Q A

November 13, 2014; Kawasaki, Japan

Biodiversity maintenance CVM

Culturalaesthetic, inspiration, religious, education, Tourism

TCM,CVM, Physical amount

Results and discussion

After analyzing statistical data and the local first class surveys’ report of forest resource, then combined with field investigation, we estimated the total service valuation of forest ecosystem in Diebu County. It is about 63.03×108 yuan per year, in which the direct and indirect using economic benefit are 3.77×108 and 59.26×108 Yuan per year, the latter is 15.72 times of the former. The valuation of forest ecosystem in Diebu County is highest in water conversation, biodiversity protection and soil maintenance, they account for 58.15% 16.53% 15.23% of total value respective, and the valuation of three of them represents 89.91% of the total value. Besides, the value of wood is 1.55×108 Yuan per year, the forest by-product is 0.23×108 Yuan per year, and tourism value is 0.62×108 Yuan per year, which constitute of 2.46%, 0.36% and 0.98% severally (Table 2).

Table 2 Different ecosystem services of the forest ecosystem in Diebu Country ×108Yuan/y

Functions

Direct use value Indirect use value

Timber

Forest by

prod-ucts

Livestock

produ-cts

Hydrop-ower

Directo non-phy-

sical products

Water conserva

-tion

Soil conserve

-ancy

Carbon sequestration & O2

release

Clean-ing air

Biodiver-sity

conserva-tion

Result 1.55 0.23 0.58 0.79 0.62 36.65 9.6 2.24 0.35 10.42% 2.46 0.36 0.92 1.25 0.98 58.15 15.23 3.55 0.56 16.53

Proportion 3.77 5.98% 59.26 94.02%

Total 63.03

The direct using value of forestry resource in Diebu County is obviously lower than the environmental regulation service value; therefore, we suggest protection and recovering should be the main countermeasure in protecting and managing forest in that country, besides, the local government should pay more attention to forest by-products and ecological tourism development. And in decision making consider of basin compensation and benefits share with stakeholder.

There are another service such as disaster and flood control, pests and diseases control, pollination service. We would research them continue.

References:State forestry administration, forestry industry criterion of China, LY/T1721—2008 (2008) Forests ecosystem service

function assessment standard, China Criterion Press, Beijing.Jin, F. Zhang, Z., Yu, X. et al. (2005) Forest ecosystem service function and valuation assessment in Qilian mountain,

Gansu province. China Water and Soil Conservation Science, 3, 53~57.Diebu county forestry bureau of Gansu province (2010-2011) Survey report on planning and design of forests

restoration in Diebu county. [R].Diebu county annals editor committee, Diebu Couty annals (2007) [M], Lanzhou University Press.Diebu county statistic bureau, Annual book of Diebu county (2000-2011) [M].

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The forest ecosystem service value of Diebu county

Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science

Prof. Dr. Xiushan Li

xiushanli@vip.163.com

3

Study site Diebu county is located in the south of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

of Gannan. The terrain in northwest is higher, while in southeast is

lower. The altitude is from 1600 to 4920 meters. Mean annual

precipitation is about 568mm, average temperature is about 7.5℃, and

the annual average frost-free period are 134 days. Forests cover rate is

60%, others are grassland 20%, farmland %.

The national territorial area of Diebu county is 510,829.6 hm2, among

which, The total forest area is 314722.4 hm2, and the forest coverage is

about 61.61%, living tree volume is about 51,335,944 m3.

In passed 30 years(1966~1998),wood cutting20,430,000m3，growth

amount 11,865,000m3，58.03%

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Forests ecosystem is very important

It provides us with wood, forest products and husbandry products, and so on. It also plays environmental regulation functions, for instance, soil and water conservation, water purification, climate regulation, clean air, sequestration of carbon and release of oxygen, maintenance of biodiversity, prevention and control disasters.

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Clear cutting in history

Diebu County has rich forests in the upstream of Bailong River. However, since the 1960s the state-owned forest enterprises and local forestry department heavily exploited the forests for three decades, even including clear cutting.

3

Wood and fuel production

Provision service

The forest services including 3 types: provision services, regulation services, cultural services. First, forests provide us wood and fuel

3

Animal husbandry, honey bee, clear water

Provision service

Provision services include Animal husbandry, pollination, clean water

3

Medicinal plants, vegetables

Provision service

Provision services also include medicinal plants, vegetable

3

Water conservancy and purification

Regulation S

ervice

The second type of forest value is regulation services: include: Water conservancy and purification

3

Regulation S

ervice

Soil conservation

Include Soil conservation

3

Maintenance of Biodiversity

Regulation S

ervice

There are a total 144 families of higher plants, 481 genera and more than 1600 species; 183 species of terrestrial vertebrates, of them 10 species are listed as the first class national protected animals. Insects have 17 orders, 160 families and 1012 species.

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Regulation S

ervice

Maintenance of Biodiversity

There are many medicinal plants

3

.

Flood control

Regulation S

ervice

Regulation services include flood control and disaster prevention.

3

Pollination

Regulation S

ervice

Provision pollinators and pollination service is very important for agriculture

3

Carbon Sequestration and Oxygen production

Regulation S

ervice

Carbon sequestration in wood and soil

3

Air polution purification

Regulation S

ervice

Air pollution purification and release negative oxygen ions

3

Habitat of animal

Regulation S

ervice

Habitats of animals, such as snow leopard, Giant Panda.

3

Cultural Service

Home land of Tibetans

Landscape Aesthetic value

The last type of forest values is Cultural services: Diebu county are beautiful and there are high aesthetic value and high potential for tourism.

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Assessment of valuation

1. Discussed with stakeholder, find out main issue

2. Data collection

Diebu County Statistical Year book and annuals

published ,combined the statistics from Diebu

Forestry Bureau, Bailong River Forestry

Administration Diebu Branch, Meteorological

Bureau, Water Resource Bureau. questionnaires

and statistical analysis by contingent valuation

methodCVM.

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Methodology

Market price: Market price of products and services , timber, wood and by products, livestock products Replace cost method: water purification replaced by the cost of sewage treatment, nutrients production, storage or sedimentation by market price of fertilizers. Benefit transfer: research results of the same type of ecosystem services elsewhere, such as carbon storage and nutrients. Contingent valuation: non-marketvalue , willingness to pay-WTP

Dem

onstration of Value

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Data analysis

.

Service type Goods and service Monetary method

provision

Raw material: wood, medicinal plants,

Market price

Food: husbandry products, honey, vegetable, Energy: fuel, water energy Other: flower, nursery stock

Regulation

Water conservation: regulation of water Water purification

U调=库A(P-E-C） U水质=10KA(P-E-C)

Soil maintenance Soil nutrition

Restoration cost: 50Yuan/ m3 Fertilizer Market price:

Carbon sequestration Oxygen production

Carbon exchange rate:20.4$/t, afforestation cost, on average 199,61Yuan/t Industry Oxygen production and afforestation cost on average, 384.85Yuan/t

Air purification: product negative oxygen ion

Absorb air pollutants

U负离子=5.256×1015×AHK负离子

（Q负离子-600）/L； U二氧化硫=K二氧化硫Q二氧化硫A U滞尘=K滞尘Q滞尘A

Biodiversity maintenance CVM

Cultural aesthetic, inspiration, religious, education, Tourism

TCM, CVM, Physical amount

ii

n

ii pppdsV 32

11f ∑

=

=

Dem

onstration of Value

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The value of clear cutting of forests

The forest in Diebu county had supplied about 0.9 Mio. m3 wood

during 1966 and 1998, and consumed forest resource about 2.043 Mio.

m3. The direct economic benefit brought by local forest reached 324

Mio. Yuan. The volume of living trees in this area is about 51,335,944

m3 , the potential economic benefit of which is about 814.1 Mio. Yuan if

cut all trees and the outturn rate is 44.05%. Then we got the total forest

direct economic benefit is about 113.81 Mio Yuan.

Dem

onstration of Value

Result

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The product value of animal husbandry

The animal husbandry in Diebu county mainly

consisted of breeding cow, sheep and Fern hemp

pig, fresh milk and other dairy product are the chief

products.

The total value of animal husbandry is 5.8 million

Yuan.

Dem

onstration of Value

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The value of hydropower

In theory, the hydroenergy in Diebu is stored about 807,400

kilowatt, and the available part is around 650,000 kw,

which account for 80.5% of the total hydroenergy. At

present, there 33 hydropower dams singed contract 8 of

them completed and working. Based on this condition, we

got the total value brought by hydropower is over 7.9

million yuan.

Dem

onstration of Value

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The value of water conservation

The average annual rainfall in Diebu county is around 568

mm, and the evapotranspiration is about 75% of the annual

precipitation, the water storage of forest interception is 44.7

million m3 . We allowed the unit reservoir cost is 6.1107

yuan per ton, and water purification cost is 2.09 yuan per

ton, then the value of regulating water content and purifying

water are about 273.1 million and 93.4 million yuan

respectively, which means the gross water conversation

value is over 366.5 million yuan.

Dem

onstration of Value

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The value of soil conversation

The total nitrogen, phosphorus and kalium in

Diebu forest soil account for 0.22% , 0.06% and

2.13% respectively. The percentage of nitrogen and

phosphorus in DAP (diammonium phosphate) are

14% and 15.01%. Then we got the total value of

soil conservation brought by forest is about 96

million yuan.

Dem

onstration of Value

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The value of carbon sequestration and oxygen generation

The annual quantity of dry matter produced by forest

is about 285,900 t, forest need 465.9 t, so the storage

volume is 340.200 t. In this condition ,we calculated

that the annual value of carbon sequestration is about

30.8 million yuan, and the value of oxygen generation

is about 13.1 million yuan. Consequently, the total

value of carbon sequestration and oxygen generation

provided by Diebu forest is 43.9 million yuan.

Dem

onstration of Value

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The value of cleaning environment

The average content of air anion is 1236/cm3 in Diebu county, the value

of air anion provide by local forest is about 0.55 Mio. Yuan.

The dust-retention ability of broad-leaved forest and coniferous forest

are 10.11 kg/(hm2·a) and 33.2 kg/(hm2·a) separately, the cost for

cutting dust is 170 yuan per ton. Besides, the absorptive capacity for

SO2 of broad-leaved forest is 88.65kg/(hm2·a) , while the coniferous

forest is 215.60 kg/(hm2·a), and the cost for cutting SO2 is 600 yuan per

ton. Then the consequence after calculation shows the value of dust-

retention is 0.12 Mio. Yuan, SO2 absorption is 2.9 Mio. Yuan.

The value of cleaning environment in Diebu county is 3.5 Mio. Yuan.

Dem

onstration of Value

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The value of biodiversity protection

The value for protecting forest biodiversity is surveyed with questionnaire, and used CVM to analysed final result. Then the primary result shows that every native people willing to pay 34.98 yuan for protecting biodiversity averagely, meanwhile, the willingness to accept is 182.71 yuan per person. Due to less income and fewer population in county, WTP is only about 6 million Yuan. It is only the price of one pare Panda. So we extension the auestionare area to hospital city Lanzhou.In the end, the value of forest biodiversity protection is 104 million yuan in Diebu county.

Dem

onstration of Value

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Tourism value

The forest ecosystem in Diebu county is pretty complete and has

variety of plant species, which has significant value in science,

cultural instruction and traveling.

The tourist industry in this region is in developing now, some

typical tourist routes like La Zikou scenic spots of revolutionary

significance are exploiting but has not formed scale.

In 2011, the overall visitors came to Diebu county increased

to180,600, and the tourism income is above 6.2 million yuan.

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onstration of Value

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Summary

The order of the values are as follows: water conservation >

biodiversity protection> soil conservation> carbon

sequestration and oxygen generation > wood providing>

Hydroelectric power> indirect non-physical(value of forest

recreation)＞ products from animal husbandary＞ cleaning

environment ＞ forest by-product.

The direct and indirect using value of ecosystem services in

Diebu was 30.7 million yuan and 789 million yuan, the

latter was 25.7 times more than the former.

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onstration of Value

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Thank you for your attention