Perceived importance and economic valuation of ecosystem services in Ghodaghodi wetland of Nepal

Being the most productive ecosystem on earth, wetlands provide basic as well as critical ecosystem services to humans and other living beings. However, the wetland resources are constantly being degraded because of poor understanding of its importance at local level and the lack of recognition of their economic value at sub-national and national levels. Using a case study of a Ramsar Convention site of Nepal - Ghodaghodi Wetland area―this paper identifies ecosystem services of the wetland based on its perceived importance at local level, and assessed its use and non-use values through total economic valuation method. We have employed literature review and participatory research tools (i.e., key informant interviews, household survey and field observation) for data collection. Based on priority ranking analysis, we found that ten major ecosystem services provided by the wetland, forest products being ranked as the most important followed by edible foods and tourism. Local people ranked (active) use value as the highest priority because the wetland is a complex of lake clusters with surrounding forests of the tropical region, providing the most needed provisioning services to local communities. As of the present evaluation of ecosystem services, the annual net economic return from Ghodaghodi wetland is estimated at 0.67 million US dollars, use value comprising 96% of the total. Having discussed the linkages and relations between (1) people’s preferences and economic value and (2) use value and non-use values, we have suggested much needed policy interventions and future pathways of research for minimizing tradeoffs between provisioning and other ecosystem services, and for the precautionary interventions to sustain (active) use value while maintaining the integrity of ecosystem health.