Assessment, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Biodiversity

Institutional and socio-economic aspects
36
ASSESSING THE TOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE OF FOREST
RESOURCES IN TUNISIA
Hamed Daly-Hassen* and Ameur Ben Mansoura
Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF),
B.P. 10, Ariana – 2080, Tunisia. Tel. 216.1.230.039, Fax. 216.1.717.951.
E-mail : Dalyhassen.hamed@iresa.agrinet.tn
Keywords: Economic value, Forest resources, user benefits, Tunisia.
Introduction
The economic value of forest resources is traditionally appreciated by that of timber production and its
contribution to the gross domestic product, or by the extent of satisfaction of timber demand. In Tunisia, the
production of wood remains timid despite the country’s substantial efforts in costly forest plantations since
access to independence, in 1956. Wood imports are rising and they accounted in 1998 for 86% of the country’s
total timber demand. Besides wood, Tunisian forests offer other important economic benefits to local users
and services towards meeting the requirements of sound watershed management. In the past, the economic
value of some of these benefits and services has been overlooked, despite the fact that it may outweigh that of
wood. This partial neglect is primarily due to the difficulty associated with the quantification of some
ecological services such as soil conservation, water purification, carbon storage, recreation, and landscape
enhancement. The objective of the present study was to perform an economic analysis of the total value of
Tunisian forests including non-woody products and uses in environmental conservation, using traditionally
available data. It also aimed at providing estimates for some previously overlooked benefits and services.
Methods
The total economic value of Tunisian forest resources was performed in order to account for both direct and
indirect use values, using data pertaining to the reference year of 1998. Non-woody products were evaluated at
the primary production stage, as their economic value after transformation or export out of the country could
not be objectively accounted. Similarly, complete lack of relevant data prevented the inclusion of either the
option value or that due to existence and bequest. Negative externalities were, however, considered but only
for damages caused by forest fires. Quantification difficulties associated with some uses of forest resources
were overcome by the use of indicators for the assessment of their economic value. Indicators included either
an increase in productivity due to reduced soil erosion, or a loss of utility, as in the case of dam silting.
Results
The analysis showed that the economic value of non-woody products and services was far greater than that of
timber, with $ 65 million for the former and only $ 3 million for the latter. Local forest populations benefited
from 82% of the direct use value, while the remaining proportion of 18% was allocated to the state budget. It
was also demonstrated that forest grazing opportunities and forest contribution to proper watershed
management provided, respectively, 32 and 58% of the total economic value. This indicated that Tunisian
forests play prominent roles at the socio-economic and environmental protection levels.
The proposed analysis can be a valuable tool for drawing new forest strategies aiming at the achievement of a
greater equilibrium between the economic development of forest areas on one hand, and the sustainability of
their environmental protection role on the other hand. Future research is needed for better economic
assessment of the benefits associated with the role of forests in watershed management and biodiversity, in
addition to the cost of negative externalities such as the impact of widespread overgrazing.
107