{"title":"Valuation and management of desert ecosystems and their services","authors":"Haojie Chen , Robert Costanza","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoser.2024.101607","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Based on different definitions, deserts may constitute 13% to 33% of the global terrestrial surface. This is larger than the area of tropical forests and all types of wetlands combined. However, desert ecosystems are among the least studied in terms of their ecosystem services (ES), especially those that arise from species and processes unique to deserts. There are numerous research gaps that need to be filled including: (1) ignorance of unique desert ES, as well as deserts’ special effects on ES; (2) limited application of sophisticated approaches for economic valuation of desert ES; and (3) lack of diverse approaches to values and valuation. Moreover, payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes are often used to combat desertification rather than for conserving well-functioning deserts. Valuation of desert ES is crucial to implementation of PES through raising awareness of overlooked deserts, motivating investment, designing payment amounts, and estimating the social benefit-cost ratios of payments. In addition to market-based voluntary PES, common asset trusts (CATs) following Ostrom’s eight core design principles may also contribute to sustainable management of desert ecosystems. Future research should explore unique desert ES, investigate the relationships between desert ES and geosystem services, improve accuracy of economic valuation of desert ES, and integrate diverse perspectives of values. The research results may potentially aid in both combatting desertification and conserving important deserts.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51312,"journal":{"name":"Ecosystem Services","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article 101607"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041624000135/pdfft?md5=17836ce0d72f346a99c6e8d5f05f205c&pid=1-s2.0-S2212041624000135-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Ecosystem Services","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041624000135","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Based on different definitions, deserts may constitute 13% to 33% of the global terrestrial surface. This is larger than the area of tropical forests and all types of wetlands combined. However, desert ecosystems are among the least studied in terms of their ecosystem services (ES), especially those that arise from species and processes unique to deserts. There are numerous research gaps that need to be filled including: (1) ignorance of unique desert ES, as well as deserts’ special effects on ES; (2) limited application of sophisticated approaches for economic valuation of desert ES; and (3) lack of diverse approaches to values and valuation. Moreover, payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes are often used to combat desertification rather than for conserving well-functioning deserts. Valuation of desert ES is crucial to implementation of PES through raising awareness of overlooked deserts, motivating investment, designing payment amounts, and estimating the social benefit-cost ratios of payments. In addition to market-based voluntary PES, common asset trusts (CATs) following Ostrom’s eight core design principles may also contribute to sustainable management of desert ecosystems. Future research should explore unique desert ES, investigate the relationships between desert ES and geosystem services, improve accuracy of economic valuation of desert ES, and integrate diverse perspectives of values. The research results may potentially aid in both combatting desertification and conserving important deserts.
期刊介绍:
Ecosystem Services is an international, interdisciplinary journal that is associated with the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP). The journal is dedicated to exploring the science, policy, and practice related to ecosystem services, which are the various ways in which ecosystems contribute to human well-being, both directly and indirectly.
Ecosystem Services contributes to the broader goal of ensuring that the benefits of ecosystems are recognized, valued, and sustainably managed for the well-being of current and future generations. The journal serves as a platform for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to share their findings and insights, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of ecosystem services.