Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...

Direct Consumptive Use Value of Ecosystem Goods and Services in the Bale
Mountains Eco-region, Ethiopia
Charlene Watson 1* , E.J. Milner-Gulland 2 and Susana Mourato 1
1 Department of Geography & Environment, and Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change
and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London,
WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom.
2Centre for Environmental Policy, Division of Biology, Imperial College London,
Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom.
*Email: c.watson2@lse.ac.uk
Abstract
The Bale Mountains Eco-Region supports diverse ecosystem goods and services on which rural
communities are highly dependent for their wellbeing. Environmental contributions to the household
production of crops, livestock and forest products are not adequately represented in policy; hence
the Eco-Region is being steadily degraded. We assess the economic importance of ecosystem
goods and services supporting agro-pastoral livelihoods. The direct consumptive use accruing to
households annually is US$ 1157 from crop production, US$ 228 from livestock production, and
US$ 407 from forest products. Household production decisions are opportunistic but also motivated
by reaching a subsistence level of wellbeing. The mean annual direct consumptive use value is US$
1791 irrespective of the household’s principal livelihood sources. Under current management, the
annual direct consumptive use value is US$ 366,439,518 across the Eco-Region’s rural population.
This suggests that these communities, heavily reliant on the environment for their livelihoods,
will be severely impacted by declining resource quality. The underlying economic incentives and
household dynamics of rural communities, in the context of local ecological conditions, need to be
considered if conservation strategies are to be consistent with rural development goals.
Introduction
The rise in global population and wealth has not only increased the demand for ecosystem goods and
services, but also necessitated that this demand is met from increasingly degraded ecosystems. In
pursuit of higher levels of welfare, short-term demands are commonly met through the conversion
of natural ecosystems into human managed land-uses causing the loss of biodiversity. The loss of
multiple components of biodiversity providing services fundamental to long-term human welfare, is
predicted to exacerbate poverty levels and reduce food security globally (MA 2005). Thus, ecosystem
conservation should be regarded as a tool to meet international development goals.
<strong>Walia</strong>-<strong>Special</strong> <strong>Edition</strong> on the Bale Mountains 181