Economic Valuation of Arghavandareh Forest’s Ecosystem Goods and Services

From natural resource economics viewpoint, instead of price tagging, economic valuation means estimation of goods and services values of natural ecosystems, to have purposeful and empowerment management for creating a framework to more conserve and preserve natural environment. In different societies, however, the values of the ecosystems are relative and dynamic and are influenced by different factors such as social, cultural and economic. For this reason, valuation helps to balance environmental change with the needs of society. This study examines economic values of goods and services of Arghavandareh Forest at Mashhad County, Iran, in terms of recreational and conservation values as well as values of water protection, soil protection, soil creation, gas regulation, goods products, and support of pasture, agricultural and garden lands. Different methods were conducted to estimate economic values of each goods or services. According to the results, values of water protection functions is about 732, soil protection 33, gas regulation 9355, soil creation 5, wood products 50, forage 41, support of pastures 5676564, support of agricultural and gardens lands 241487, conservative 22, and recreational 152 Billion Rials. Finally, the total value of Arghavandareh Forest was estimated at six million Billion Rials. By studying and quantifying the economic values of various ecosystem goods and services, while emphasizing the livability status and economic value of the region, the present study has introduced sustainable conservation as a basis for sustainable development and has highlighted the use of system thinking for the integrated management of socio-ecological systems of natural ecosystems.