Economic valuation of ecosystem services in the shompole wetland, south ewaso ngiro river, Kenya

Abstract

Valuation of ecosystem services IS basically concerned with the functions or biophysical processes that take place within ecosystems, which in turn generates particular goods and services for humankind. Ecosystem services can simply be defined as the conditions and relationships through which natural ecosystems and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfil the needs of human life. The exact nature and magnitude of these services will depend on the type, size, complexity and physical characteristics, state and management of the ecosystem in question. Valuation is the process of expressing a value for a particular action or object. Ecosystem valuation represents the process of expressing a value for ecosystem goods and services, thereby providing the opportunity for scientific observation and measurement. Despite a lack of direct markets, ecosystem services support other production processes and their absence has an impact on economic activities. The main thrust of the project was to determine the ecosystem services values and demonstrate their .influence on land use and wealth generation within Shornpole group ranch. The aim is to explore the perceived and marketed values of ecosystem services and the significance of their- influence on land use and poverty reduction among Shornpole Group Ranch community. The Shornpole wetlands are strategically located to provide diverse environmental services locally, regionally and internationally. The values of these ecosystem services are however not reflected in the local economics and by extension in the community's livelihoods. The study will explore the linkages of ecosystem services, land use and wealth creation as a basis of supporting local economic livelihoods. An important objective of valuing ecosystem services is to provide an improved basis for designing better land and resource use policies and management systems. But even as the values for ecosystem goods and services are calculated, the major challenge is to factor these values in the decision-making processes. For the purpose of this study the following ecosystem services with respect to Shornpole Wetland were valued; I. Water cleansing and detoxification service from river Ewaso-Ngiro to Lake Natron II. Flood and storm protection III. B iod iversity support and ma intenance IV. Nutrients storage and cycling - V From the valuation of the services at the Shornpole wetland that were conducted in this survey the following are the service values: a) Water cleansing ecosystem services - US$ 2,529,257,473 pa b) Flood and storm protection to Lake Narron - US$ 11,819,091 p.a. c) Habitat service provision to biodiversity - US$ 1,033,833 p.a. d) Nutrients storage and cycling (for nitrogen only) - Total value for the valued ecosystems services - US$ 577,396 p.a US$2,542,687,793 p.a From the survey it is evident that the main uses of the swamps ecosystem goods and services are mainly to survive drought, to provide daily requirements such as water, and to avoid long distance pastures for the weak animals. These are important economic activities for the local cornmunity and for the region. However although the community perceives the swam p as important in their lives, they don't look at those benefits in ecosystem economic terms. Failure to value the services of the swamp results to partial appreciation of the swamp mainly from direct goods and benefits, and mostly ignoring the functional services that have a long term impact to the survival of the community in terms of drought resilience water supply and nutrient cycling which in turns sustains their means of wealth creation thereby improving their livelihoods and alleviating poverty. The overall conclusion is that valuation of ecosystem services is very important for decision making on management and conservation of natural habitats. In the past the concept of ecosystems have not been properly understood by the decision makers at various levels but through the valuation of ecosystem services it is easy to understand why there is need to have an integrated approach to conservation and environmental protection. It also demonstrates that wetlands and idle bush land are not wastelands but contributes functionally through ecosystem services to other Iife supporting processes. The notion of the Kenya government to tax idle land is therefore misinformed as it can only accelerate the loss of natural land to agriculture and other conversion land uses which have lesser value than provision of ecosystem services. Valuation of ecosystem services is a powerful economic tool of intervention on a majority of environmental matters such as preservation of indigenous forests, conservation of water catchments areas, protection of wetlands and conservation of wildlife areas as the values easily catches the imagination of the - resource custodians making

it easy to change their attitudes positively towards making rational management and utilization decisions that will sustain ecosystems functionality.