The possibilities and pitfalls presented by a pragmatic approach to ecosystem service valuation in an arid biodiversity hotspot

dc.contributor.authorO'Farrell, P.J.
dc.contributor.authorDe Lange, W.J.
dc.contributor.authorLe Maitre, D.C. (David Carlyle)
dc.contributor.authorReyers, Belinda
dc.contributor.authorBlignaut, James Nelson
dc.contributor.authorMilton, Sue J. (Suzanne Jane), 1952-
dc.contributor.authorAtkinson, D.
dc.contributor.authorEgoh, Benis N.
dc.contributor.authorMaherry, A.
dc.contributor.authorColvin, Christine
dc.contributor.authorCowling, Richard Mark
dc.date.accessioned2011-03-07T06:32:52Z
dc.date.available2011-03-07T06:32:52Z
dc.date.issued2011-06
dc.description.abstractArid regions are home to unique fauna, flora, and vulnerable human populations, and present a challenge for sustainable land-use management. We undertook an assessment and valuation of three key services, grazing, tourism and water supply in the arid Succulent Karoo biome in western South Africa - a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot. We were looking for ways and values that could be used to promote conservation in this region through the adoption of sustainable land-use practices which have human welfare benefits. Our study adopted a variety of methods in valuing these services in developing ranges of values for these services. At the biome level, total annual values ranged from $ 19e114 million for grazing, $ 2e$ 20 million for tourism, and $ 300e3120 million for water. These values are generally low compared with values derived for other biomes and regions and do not adequately reflect known dependence and the importance of ecosystem services to the residents of this biome. The ecosystems here provide small but critical benefits enabling communities to sustain themselves and small changes in service levels can have major welfare effects. Highlighting these sensitivities will require finding more appropriate ways to link ecological and social factors.en
dc.identifier.citationO’Farrell, P.J., et al., The possibilities and pitfalls presented by a pragmatic approach to ecosystem service valuation in an arid biodiversity hotspot, Journal of Arid Environments, vol. 75, no. 6, pp. 612-623 (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.01.005en
dc.identifier.issn0140-1963
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.01.005
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/15970
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.rights© 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.en_US
dc.subjectHuman wellbeingen
dc.subjectSustainable land-useen
dc.subject.lcshNatural resources -- South Africa -- Karoo -- Managementen
dc.subject.lcshEcosystem services -- South Africa -- Karooen
dc.subject.lcshBiotic communities -- South Africa -- Karooen
dc.subject.lcshArid regions biodiversity conservation -- South Africa -- Karooen
dc.subject.lcshBiodiversity conservation -- South Africa -- Karooen
dc.titleThe possibilities and pitfalls presented by a pragmatic approach to ecosystem service valuation in an arid biodiversity hotspoten
dc.typePostprint Articleen

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