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ABSTRACT
New methodological, methodical and instrumental solutions are presented for direct cost valuation of proper economic functions of biodiversity. Such valuation could provide a basis for effective economic means of protection, recovery and rational use for diverse forms of exploited wildlife.
Implementation of proposed solutions is illustrated by practical valuation of economic fonctions (services) for some forms of intra-specific and inter-specific diversity in pacific salmon.
Keywords: biodiversity, economic functions, valuation, economic value, sustainability, productivity, salmon.
INTRODUCTION
Accelerating loss of biological diversity on the planet is one of the most critical problems of nature use in the transition to sustainable development.
At the Geoconference «Expo SGEM-2011» the authors have already presented their view on some methodical and practical aspects for economic solution of this problem by the example of identification and cost evaluation of proper economic functions for one form of pacific salmon intra-specific diversity. It was addressed to chum salmon (Oncorchynchus keta) diversity on the basis of age of individual maturation in Paratunka River (Eastern Kamchatka).
In the present report we will illustrate implementation of developed methodical approaches and tools for direct cost evaluation of biodiversity economic functions (services) by the example of more complex forms of intra-specific (population and race) diversity for the most valuable salmon species - sockeye salmon (Oncorchynchus nerka), as well as inter-specific diversity of sockeye and chum salmon in Kamchatka river basin (Eastern Kamchatka)1.
METHODOLOGICAL BASIS
While our approaches proposed to solve the discussed problem have not well known yet outside Russia, we would like to present in advance a basic initial background, methodical basis and target orientation of these approaches. In brief they are the following:
- accelerating loss of biological diversity as well as all other environmental problems is of economic origin and so would be solved primarily by economic means;
- in market economy the most efficient economic mechanisms to use any resources and services are based on their direct and adequate cost evaluation;
- only direct and adequate cost evaluation of proper economic functions (services) of biodiversity allows these services to be included into natural capital and thereby stimulate owners and users to have economic interest in its protection and growth.
With that the methods for economic evaluation of biodiversity used in a modem world...