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Challenges for valuing ecosystem services from an Indigenous estate in northern Australia

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  • Sangha, Kamaljit K.
  • Russell-Smith, Jeremy
  • Morrison, Scott C.
  • Costanza, Robert
  • Edwards, Andrew

Abstract

Recent Australian government policy for developing northern Australia applies a standard financial approach that disregards the importance of Ecosystem Services (ES), and the significance of associated socio-cultural benefits of ES for the wellbeing of Indigenous people who constitute the majority of the regional rural population. First, we assess available ES valuation methods for estimating non-market and market values of ES from an Indigenous estate, Fish River Station (FRS), representative of ‘typical’ regional savannas. Second, we estimate the direct (fire and weed management) and indirect (foregone income from pastoral enterprise) costs associated with maintaining those services. For valuation of ES, we applied a conventional Basic Value Transfer technique using global databases including available regional studies—providing valuations of USD 286 and 84My−1, respectively. However, constituent studies used in these valuations had limited relevance to both the ecosystems and socio-cultural contexts of our study. For evaluating Indigenous socio-ecological benefits of ES, estimated conservatively at USD 2.21My−1, we applied a local wellbeing valuation technique. The minimum costs required to maintain ES flows were estimated as USD 5.6ha−1y−1. Our study illustrates that, to better inform regional development policy, significant challenges remain for appropriate valuation of ES from north Australian savannas, including recognition of socio-cultural services and wellbeing benefits incorporating Indigenous values.

Suggested Citation

  • Sangha, Kamaljit K. & Russell-Smith, Jeremy & Morrison, Scott C. & Costanza, Robert & Edwards, Andrew, 2017. "Challenges for valuing ecosystem services from an Indigenous estate in northern Australia," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 167-178.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoser:v:25:y:2017:i:c:p:167-178
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.04.013
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    1. Sangha, Kamaljit K. & Gerritsen, Rolf & Russell-Smith, Jeremy, 2019. "Repurposing government expenditure for enhancing Indigenous well-being in Australia: A scenario analysis for a new paradigm," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 75-91.
    2. Rana, Kartika & Goyal, Neha & Prakash Sharma, Gyan, 2018. "Staging stewards of agro-ecosystems in the ecosystem services framework," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 33(PA), pages 89-101.
    3. Stoeckl, Natalie & Condie, Scott & Anthony, Ken, 2021. "Assessing changes to ecosystem service values at large geographic scale: A case study for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    4. Sangha, Kamaljit K & Evans, Jay & Edwards, Andrew & Russell-Smith, Jeremy & Fisher, Rohan & Yates, Cameron & Costanza, Robert, 2021. "Assessing the value of ecosystem services delivered by prescribed fire management in Australian tropical savannas," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    5. Adam Jadhav & Sharolyn Anderson & Michael J. B. Dyer & Paul C. Sutton, 2017. "Revisiting Ecosystem Services: Assessment and Valuation as Starting Points for Environmental Politics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-20, September.
    6. Manero, Ana & Taylor, Kat & Nikolakis, William & Adamowicz, Wiktor & Marshall, Virginia & Spencer-Cotton, Alaya & Nguyen, Mai & Grafton, R. Quentin, 2022. "A systematic literature review of non-market valuation of Indigenous peoples’ values: Current knowledge, best-practice and framing questions for future research," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    7. Chris McDonald & Ana I. Moreno-Monroy & Laura-Sofia Springare, 2019. "Indigenous economic development and well-being in a place-based context," OECD Regional Development Working Papers 2019/01, OECD Publishing.
    8. Kosanic, Aleksandra & Petzold, Jan, 2020. "A systematic review of cultural ecosystem services and human wellbeing," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    9. Chakraborty, Shamik & Gasparatos, Alexandros & Blasiak, Robert, 2020. "Multiple values for the management and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    10. Sangha, Kamaljit K. & Preece, Luke & Villarreal-Rosas, Jaramar & Kegamba, Juma J. & Paudyal, Kiran & Warmenhoven, Tui & RamaKrishnan, P.S., 2018. "An ecosystem services framework to evaluate indigenous and local peoples’ connections with nature," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(PA), pages 111-125.

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