Valuation of ecosystem services in Iranian protected forests: An economic approach to achieve sustainable development

This study aims to assign economic value to ecosystem services within protected areas, ensuring that non-market services are not ignored and enabling a comparative analysis between market and non-market values. Such comparisons can serve as a foundation for informed policymaking in protected areas, promoting their sustainable development. Considering the wide range of ecosystem services, some ecosystem services were valued, originating from provisioning, regulating, and supporting services within the Sabzkouh Protected Area, a protected forest in Iran. The selected services include oxygen production and carbon sequestration in regulating services; wildlife habitat in supporting services; and collecting acorns, wood for local structures, preparation of firewood, agriculture, and livestock grazing in provisioning services. The calculation of oxygen production and carbon sequestration involved assessing the above-ground biomass within five one-hectare plots. The replacement cost method was utilized to evaluate the value of the oxygen produced and the carbon sequestered. For assessing the value of wildlife habitats, the contingent valuation approach was applied, supported by the use of SHAZAM software. Provisioning services were assessed through group interviews conducted with the local community, utilizing social facilitators to guide the process. The economic valuation of provisioning services was performed using the market price method. This study also introduces a system model to illustrate the essential inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback mechanisms within the ecosystem services valuation framework. Our findings indicate that the annual total value of oxygen production within the forest ecosystem is estimated to range between $59 million and $92 million per year, and the economic value of carbon sequestration is between $36 million and $56 million per year (based on different methods of calculating biomass). Furthermore, the value of the wildlife animal habitat in the region is estimated at $7.5 million per year. None of the economic values ​​of provisioning services reach $1 million per management unit per year. The value of ecosystem services related to local communities is estimated to be around $14 million per year for the 11 management units in the protected area. From a management perspective, local communities have the highest roles in the western forests of Iran; however, from an economic valuation, low economic values in a management unit ​​are defined for the services associated with them (provision of services). Sustainable development requires comprehensive attention to all ecosystem services and both local communities and ecosystems. It is essential to explore suitable policies addressing all ecosystem services to promote both environmental conservation and support for local communities. Assessing the value of these services plays a pivotal role in shaping a clearer understanding of their importance, aiding policy development and informed decision-making aimed at alleviating stress on ecosystems.