Ecosystem Services of the Buffalo National River in Arkansas

ABSTRACT The Buffalo National River is a scenic and ecologically significant resource located in the Ozark Plateau of Arkansas, USA. As a free-flowing and protected river, the Buffalo offers natural benefits to humanity (e.g., food production, carbon storage, recreation), known as ecosystem services. Using both market and survey data, we performed the first comprehensive valuation of the ecosystem services that the Buffalo National River provides to Arkansas residents. The total ecosystem services benefits in 2018 USD were valued at $20.5 million per year ($550/ha). Most of the value was concentrated in cultural services (i.e., recreation, aesthetics, cognitive development), which were responsible for over 70% of total value at $384/ha. Air quality regulation and the provisioning of water also made important contributions to the total, with values of $103/ha and $36/ha, respectively. Our study highlights the considerable economic value provided by the Buffalo National River in its current state. Recent economic activity, in particular intensive agriculture, has threatened these services and in the process created conflicts between different industries. These values are important to consider when making management and policy decisions that affect the region.