The Economic Value of Congo Basin Protected Areas Goods and Services

Abstract

This paper describes the economic value of Protected Areas (PA) in the Congo Basin. It should be noted that the focus is on forest ecosystem values more generally, rather than PA values per se. This is because little or no specific information exists on the value of PAs in the sub-region, whereas data are available which look at the economic benefits associated with natural forests. In effect, the values referred to below therefore indicate the economic benefits that are generated from the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity and ecosystems in the Congo Basin -to which ends which PAs provide an important conservation mechanism. The total economic value (TEV) is applied here as framework used to categorise ecosystem values. Data are coming from the existing literature in order to come up with broad estimates of the economic value of Congo Basin PAs. The main findings of this research estimate rely on different source data and calculation methods, represent a mixture of actual and potential values, and only consider key goods and services, it should be noted that the figures cannot be summed to give a single figure for the total economic value of Congo Basin PAs. As final results, the TEV is around US$ 603,468,014,907 with US$ 13,884,954 for direct use value; US$ 589,532,157,606 for indirect use value and US$ 50,903,301 for option, existence and bequest value. Henceforth, to maintain the sustainability of Congo basin, there is a need to provide adequate financing for protected areas. While precise figures are difficult to obtain, there is unquestionably a high economic and development value to protected area conservation. In many cases this value far exceeds those arising from alternative-and less sustainable-land and resource use options.

Diversity and diel activity patterns of terrestrial mammals in the Nkuba Conservation Area, Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…For globally threatened species it may be crucial to protect relatively undisturbed habitat as refuges that aid species persistence when it proves difficult to halt threats across their range (Reside et al, 2019). For these reasons, and the potential of these forests for carbon storage and delivery of ecosystem services (Hugues, 2011; Xu et al, 2017), we conclude that protection of the forests of Nkuba Conservation Area is worthy of further support and institutional engagement.…”

A Lagrangian Perspective of the Hydrological Cycle in the Congo River Basin

“…The CRB comprises the second largest continuous rainforest in the world, covering an area of approximately 1.8 Million km 2 , being extremely important for storing carbon and having an impact on the global water cycle through local water recycling (Haensler et al, 2013). These moist forests are the continent's main forest resource, containing an extraordinary biodiversity (SCBD-CAFC, 2009) that brings important economic benefits to local communities (Hugues, 2011). Nevertheless, satellite Earth Syst.…”

A meta-analysis of the economic value of forest carbon stock

“…Hence, understanding about the economic value of carbon stored in the forests can encourage countries to lower the rates of deforestation and improve the status of their natural carbon sinks (Yee 2010). The economic valuation of forest carbon helps the policymakers to take appropriate decisions for reducing deforestation and conserving biodiversity through the protection and conservation of the forest ecosystems (Verma, 2000;Bulte et al, 2002;Verma, 2009;Hugues, 2011;Malik et al, 2015). Economic valuation of forest carbon is also needed for forest resource accounting by optimizing forest products and environmental services forest ecosystem values (Ninan & Inoue, 2013).…”