The valuation of some services and functions of forest ecosystem of Noujian watershed

Background and objectives: In addition to wood production, forests provide numerous environmental and social resources, many of which are often undervalued in the market. Materials and methods:This paper examines five cases of ecosystem services within forest ecosystems from an economic perspective, utilizing various evaluation approaches.To achieve this, the recreational value of the area was assessed using a conditional valuation method.Additionally, the values of carbon sequestration, soil nutrient maintenance, water regulation, and non-food products in the region were estimated using the replacement cost method.Subsequently, the total economic value of these functions was calculated.Results: According to the results, the total economic value and the annual value per hectare of the forest ecosystem were 576,413,505.1 Toman and 17,243,407.56Toman, respectively.The carbon sequestration function, with an equivalent value of 574,114,967.1 thousand Toman, had the highest value, while the recreational function had the lowest total value among the other functions, with an equivalent value of 126,618 thousand Toman per year. Conclusion:The results of this study, along with findings from similar research, indicate that natural resources are increasingly under pressure and becoming scarcer in light of future exploitation processes.Therefore, it is essential to optimize the use of these valuable ecosystems to protect this natural heritage.By understanding the economic value of the entire ecosystem, program developers and policymakers can make more informed decisions and prioritize options that ensure its optimal utilization.