Economic valuation of mangrove forests in Hara protected area
Economic valuation of mangrove forests in Hara protected area
Mohsen Dehghani
ABSTRACT
Mangrove forests are among the richest coastal ecosystems which provide a wide range of economic and ecological advantages services. The mangroves are sources of highly valued for developinga commercial products and fishery resources and also as sites burgeoning eco-tourism. Yet despite their ecological and economic importance, the rate and magnitude of mangrove conversion is relatively unknown. These forests can be considered as exceptional wetland ecosystems in southern coastal of Iran which are highly fertile and in terms of biodiversity are among the most important resources. Hara Protected Area with various socio-economic and ecological features includes 8000 ha of these forests. This research was carried out to determine fodder harvest value as one of the direct use values based on data collected from questionnaire and sampling throughout Hara Protected Area during all seasons of 2011 and 2012. The results reveal that the poor pastures and economically undeveloped infrastructures in the region have led the local communities on the coastal areas to supply the livestock's fodder from mangrove leaves. Hence, the household incomes rely considerably on these habitats product, while economic evaluation of the harvested fodder reaches $124686 annually. Recognizing the importance of mangrove forests and their role, protection of this resource must be considered seriously.
Key words: Economic Value, Use Value, Coastal Ecosystems, Mangrove Forests, Hara Protected Area
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June 2015
Vol. 65, Iss. 2
