Open AccessNet Value of Wetland Ecosystem Services in China
Author(s) -
Cao Shixiong,
Zhang Junze,
Su Wei
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
earth's future
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.641
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2328-4277
DOI - 10.1029/2018ef000976
Subject(s) - renminbi , ecosystem services , wetland , china , total economic value , ecosystem , value (mathematics) , business , mainland china , investment (military) , natural resource economics , environmental resource management , geography , economics , ecology , archaeology , machine learning , computer science , biology , politics , law , political science
Wetlands generate a wide range of ecosystem services that support human well‐being and socioeconomic development. However, calculation of the value of these services generally fails to account for their costs. In order to understand the difference between the value and the net value of ecosystem services (VES and NES, respectively), we used government statistics and data from published papers about the values and costs of wetland services to calculate their NES in mainland China. After accounting for the opportunity costs, investment in wetland conservation and protection, and management to prevent natural disasters, the NES of China's wetlands totaled 828.1 × 10 9 RMB in 2014, which is 36.4% less than the VES of 1,301.9 × 10 9 RMB calculated using the traditional approach. From 1952 to 2014, the NES of wetlands across the country (adjusted for inflation) decreased from 2,215.9 × 10 9 RMB to 828.1 × 10 9 RMB. Accounting for the costs to determine the net value of ecosystem services will provide a better foundation to support land planning and utilization.