• Journal of Environmental Policy
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.3-16
• /
• 2013

This review paper examines various terms used for the definitions and classifications of ecosystem services, often times mixed and confused, in the literature and re-establishes the concepts of important terms, including ecosystem functions, services and benefits, to enhance communication among the stake-holders in the process of decision making. The definitions and scopes of ecosystem services are differentiated depending on the policy purposes such as environmental accounting, environmental valuation and natural resource management. The importance of identification and enumeration of final outputs associated with a particular policy is addressed. In addition, the usefulness of an alternative pathway-analysis beginning from benefits, via services and function, to process/structure of ecosystem is emphasized.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.95-126
• /
• 2001

Functional values for wastewater treatment and atmospheric regulation in coastal wetland and rice paddy ecosystems are quantified, and an illustration is given on how to integrate biophysical parameters into a valuation framework. This is one of most controversial issues in economic analysis for wetland preservation versus wetland conversion to agricultural use. This paper includes theoretical considerations for estimating functional values of environmental ecosystems, and the integration of biophysical data and replacement cost method employed. Specific physical and geographical characteristics and data on ecosystem functions and services in coastal wetlands and rice paddies are addressed for evaluating their values in economic terms. In particular this paper indicates double counting problems and overestimation in the previous studies, and demonstrates how to avoid them and to maintain the consistency of valuation process involving a least-cost method, thus enables an accurate integration of the coastal wetland ecology and wetland economics. As a result which is far away from the previous studies, the total economic present value of wastewater assimilation by coastal wetland is estimated at 7,484,640 won/ha, and the net present value of positive effect for atmospheric regulation, negative effects for air pollution and water pollution by rice paddy is estimated at -37,934 won/ha, assuming that resources are infinitely long-lived and the annual value and the rate of discount (10%) is constant every year. In conclusion, for further reliability and validity of functional values for natural resources it is very noteworthy that a general equilibrium framework that could directly incorporate the interdependence between ecosystem functions and services would be preferred to the partial equilibrium framework.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.277-303
• /
• 2023

The importance of ecosystem service such as green spaces has risen due to restrictions on outdoor activities amid the climate crisis and COVID-19. While gardens significantly impact economic development, quality of life, and social well-being, comprehensive studies on their multidimensional values are lacking. This research categorizes garden values into social, cultural, environmental, and health dimensions and proposes an integrated assessment framework that introduces detailed elements and evaluation methods. An empirical assessment of carbon storage index in two Korean gardens, Semiwon and Juknokwon, reveals Semiwon's higher carbon storage per unit area. The proposed framework, emphasizing a quantitative approach, enables cross-national and regional comparisons, contributing to a broader understanding and evaluation of garden values beyond specific facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2013

Some researcher started studies of natural capital from 1980's. But many researches are going along with the theme lately. Most assessment of ecosystem services are approaching a general assessment using a land-cover map. Therefore they have some problems such as overestimate, underestimate, and double counting, and so on. This study suggested a detailed typology for quantitative assessment about ecosystem services. It compared land-cover map and forest type map to select a based map and made criteria with reference to the literature and field survey. It subdivided a forest typology using ecological feature (natural forest, artifical forest), forest type (coniferous forest, mixed forest, hardwood forest) and age of stand in forest type map. Each forest type is widely distributed 21~40 ages of forests and biggest area is 21~40 ages of mixed forest in all forest typology. Further researches have to progress consistently assessment using detailed typology and function of forest ecosystem services.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.321-349
• /
• 2016

According to the recent observation by NOAA(US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), 2015 is the warmest year based on global average temperature since 1880. The air temperatures in the Arctic have been rising at almost twice the global average and the extent and thickness of sea ice in the Arctic have declined. And the warming process in the Arctic is accelerating rapidly. These impacts of drastic change in sea ice caused by climate change in the Arctic threaten the eco-system service and biodiversity in the Arctic. This study intends to estimate the economic value on changes in eco-system services and biodiversity of the Arctic caused by climate change. The result of the valuation indicates that the total benefit from improvement of ecosystem in the Arctic ranges from 318.6 billion won to 715.9 billion won per annum. Replication scenarios can be explored into two broad categories in future studies: scenarios in consideration of conflicts of different stakeholders and scenarios based on wider or narrower definition of biodiversity in the Arctic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.85-102
• /
• 2012

Industrialization and modernization of the $20^{th}$ century have brought convenience to human life. However, such development produced unintentional global environmental issues such as destruction of natural ecosystem through excessive use of the natural environment beyond its capacity. The United National (UN) recognized such global environment issues and coordinated with worldwide experts to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the global ecosystem, "Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)", to resolve the issues. The UN conducted the MA primarily to comprehend the correlation between the ecosystem and human welfare. The results demonstrated that the ecosystem provides various direct and indirect benefits to human. This new concept was introduced as the "ecosystem services". Introduction of the ecosystem services highlighted the significance of the ecosystem and led to increased research and active discussions among experts from various discipline over the recent 10 years. It has been considered that the ecosystem service concept could be incorporated in policymaking process, as primary criteria to assess and weigh the benefits of using natural resources against the effects on value of the ecosystem. The current policymaking process is affected by the contradicting logics of modernization and preservation of ecosystem. The ecosystem services concept could be the answer to forming a rational policymaking process, allowing for nature preservation while wisely using the available natural resources. The general consensus has been formed on the need of incorporating the ecosystem services concept in the policies and globally various researches on the ecosystem services have been actively conducted. However, introduction of the ecosystem services concept is still at a very early stage and research on real application of the ecosystem services is yet almost nonexistent. Also there are no clear and agreed definition, classification scheme and value appraisal methodology regarding the ecosystem services. Therefore, this research explains the basic concept of the ecosystem services and highlights specific issues for further researches, as further researches on real application of the ecosystem services would find ways for the ecosystem services approach to be valuable in the policymaking process.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.8 no.8
• /
• pp.465-473
• /
• 2021

This study is the application of a choice experiment to assess Mekong Delta urban households' preferences and motivations for ecosystem conservation in the U Minh forest. The study applied a choice modeling approach to estimate the economic values of the proposed ecosystem conservation program in the U Minh forest by accessing urban consumer preferences and their willingness to pay for the project. Discrete choice experimental data was collected from 450 residents in the cities of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The multinomial logit model was employed to identify consumer's stated preferences for the environmental and sustainability attributes of the conservation project. The results showed that Mekong Delta urban residents paid much attention to the proposed project to protect and develop the U Minh forest. In addition, the results showed that higher education, income, and knowledge of the U Minh forest revealed a higher likelihood of selecting the project, while the older residents would select the status quo more than the younger ones. The study also proved that the effect of participation had a strong impact on the willingness to pay for the project. The findings could be useful for policymakers to take action to raise resident's awareness and willingness to pay for the U Minh forest project.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.265-275
• /
• 2010

The main purpose of this study is to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) by the general publics, assuming that they pay tax or charge for protecting marine living resources and environment through developing and supplying biodegradable fishing nets. This study employed a contingent valuation method (CVM) which is an econometric method. The survey was conducted by using both double-bounded dichotomous choice and open-ended survey. Tobit model was used for the analysis. The variables included concerns about marine environment and fishing net discarded, sex, age profile, number of family members, educational level and personal disposable income. Annual average WTP per family for the biodegradable fishing net development and supply was estimated at 5,294 won and national WTP amounted to some 84.2 billion won. This includes both of use and non-use value of biodegradable fishing nets.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.332-338
• /
• 2015

Valuation of ecosystem services through organic carbon distribution and cycling in the Pinus densiflora forest at Mt. Worak National Park were investigated from January 2013 through December 2013. The amount of carbon allocated to above and below ground biomass was 32.17 and 8.04 ton C $ha^{-1}$. Amount of organic carbon in litter layer was 5.55 ton C $ha^{-1}$. Amount of organic carbon within 50cm soil depth was 58.62 ton C $ha^{-1}$ 50cm-$depth^{-1}$. Total amount of organic carbon in this Pinus densiflora forest was estimated to 104.38 ton C $ha^{-1}$. The estimated amount of won in this Pinus densiflora forest in terms of total organic carbon was about 10.44 million won $ha^{-1}$. The amount of carbon evolved through soil respiration was 4.44 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. The amount of carbon evolved through microbial respiration and root respiration was 2.18 and 2.27 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. The amount of organic carbon absorbed from the atmosphere of this Pinus densiflora forest was 0.44 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ when estimated from the difference between net primary production and microbial respiration. This amount will come to about 44,000 won $ha^{-1}$ in Korean currency.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.54 no.9
• /
• pp.657-666
• /
• 2021

Ecosystem biodiversity is rapidly being lost due to changes in habitat, fragmentation of habitat, climate change, and land use changes by human activities. Recently, attempts have been made to approach the watershed management level to secure the health of the watershed, but studies on how to approach biodiversity and habitat management are still in lack. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the habitat quality of Geum river basin using Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) habitat quality model. The results of habitat quality was verified to eco-natural map and ecological watershed health evaluation results. The habitat quality of watershed was evaluated from 0 to 0.86 and the results showed that habitat quality was higher in upstream than downstream. Compared the habitat quality value in each eco-natural grade, the average habitat quality of 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades were 0.80, 0.76 and 0.71 respectively. The results of the correlation analysis with ecological watershed health data, the coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.58, and the person coefficient was 0.76. The results of this study may be used as foundation data to support habitat protection and implementation of long-term biodiversity-related policies.