Economic evaluation of ecosystem services in a Lagoon in the south-eastern part of the Buenos Aires state, Argentina

The evaluation of ecosystem services is a widely debated subject, one which is in constant production. In Argentina there is little empirical evidence about the use of methodologies that tend to give economic value to the benefits associated with specific ecosystems. This paper explains the environm...

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Published inInvestigaciones geográficas no. 68; p. 173
Main Authors Iwan, Agustina, Guerrero, Elsa Marcela, Romanelli, Asunción, Bocanegra, Emilia
Format Journal Article
LanguageSpanish
Published Alicante Instituto Interuniversitario de Geografía 01.01.2017
Subjects
Aquatic ecosystems
Biodiversity
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide fixation
Carbon sequestration
Economic analysis
Economics
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Environmental management
Environmental planning
Environmental services
Lagoons
Policies
Recreation areas
Recreational areas
Soil erosion
Statistical methods
Water supply
Argentina
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Summary:The evaluation of ecosystem services is a widely debated subject, one which is in constant production. In Argentina there is little empirical evidence about the use of methodologies that tend to give economic value to the benefits associated with specific ecosystems. This paper explains the environmental situation of an endorheic lagoon in the southeast of the province of Buenos Aires and the economic valuation of some ecosystem services associated with it. Laguna de Los Padres is a major local wetland because of the ecosystem services it provides and also it is a recreational area of symbolic sociocultural value for the community. Modelling, because of its synthetic character and explanatory capacity, helps distinguish the system and the selection of four ecosystem services (SE): water supply, CO2 sequestration, soil erosion and the existing value of biodiversity. Considering the availability of information, the physical and economical aspects of this service can be evaluated. Economic valuation generally undervalues the environment; however, it can be a useful policy tool for environmental planning and management decisions because it brings the discussion to the monetary level. General Pueyrredón is a municipality that covers an area of 1,453.44 km2 and 619,000 inhabitants (Institute of Statistics and Censuses [INDEC], 2010). The sum of the environmental services considered helps estimate the Total Economic Value (TEV) that is equivalent to 4.6% of the 2014 annual Municipal budget.
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content type line 14
ISSN:0213-4691
1989-9890
DOI:10.14198/INGEO2017.68.10