Economic Assessment of Damage to Specially Protected Natural Areas from Negative Water Impacts: Methodological and Applied Aspects

Abstract

The article continues a series of publications on the economic assessment of the consequences of negative water impacts caused by the rising water levels of Lake Baikal. The study focuses on certain methodological aspects of assessing damage to the infrastructure of coastal specially protected natural areas (SPNAs). Thus, within the Republic of Buryatia, SPNAs of federal significance (Transbaical National Park, Baikal and Barguzinsky Reserves, Frolikha and Kabansky Wildlife Refuges) and regional significance (Upper Angara, Ad-jacent to Lake Baikal, and Enkheluk Wildlife Refuges, and the recreational area “Baikal Coast”) are affected by negative impacts due to changes in Lake Baikal’s water levels. The methodological framework for assessing damage relies on the fundamental principles of the “Methodology for Assessing Probabilistic Damage” (VIEMS methodology). Considering the limited application of the methodology concerning SPNAs, the article justifies methodological provisions and proposes an algorithm for assessing damage to SPNA infrastructure, taking into account their functional purpose.