TITLE:
Ecosystem Service Value for the Common Reed Wetlands in the Liaohe Delta, Northeast China
AUTHORS:
Siyuan Ye, Edward A. Laws, Robert Costanza, Hans Brix
KEYWORDS:
China, Common Reeds, Ecosystem Services, Liaohe Delta, Valuation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.6 No.3,
February
18,
2016
ABSTRACT: The largest reed field in the world, with an area of 1000 km2 in 1953, is located in the Liaohe Delta, which lies in the five-point-in-a-line
economic strategic zone of northeastern China. However, the area of reeds has declined
dramatically in recent years to accommodate oil field infrastructure and societal
developments. Although the direct and indirect services provided by such
wetlands make valuable contributions to human welfare, wetlands are often given
little weight in policy decisions, because ecosystem services are not fully “captured”
in commercial markets or adequately quantified in terms comparable with the
values of economic services and manufactured capital. In this study the value of
10 of 17 ecosystem services provided by the reed wetlands in the Liaohe Delta was
estimated by using market pricing, shadow projects, and benefit transfer
methods. The value of the 10 services provided by the 800 km2 of reed
wetland totaled approximately US $2.68 billion. Remarkably, aquaculture and the
production of pulp from reeds accounted for only 19% of the total value of the
reed wetland services. About 32% of the value of the ecosystem services was
attributed to non-consumptive recreation, an easily perceived service that may
act as a powerful incentive for sustainable management of this wetland
ecosystem. The results of this study should help not only to guide management
decisions with respect to this particular wetland but also to serve as an
example of the approach to be taken with respect to valuation of similarly
endangered wetlands throughout China.