Economic valuation of mangrove ecosystems in Kerala
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Date
2013
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Journal ISSN
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Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
Mangroves are invaluable treasure o f our biodiversity with immense ecological and
economic significance. But mangroves wealth of the world is depleting at an annual
rate of -0. 34 per cent. Mangroves in Kerala, constitute 0.3 per cent o f that in India, is
reported to be high in species diversity. The available reports indicate the depleting
status o f the ecosystem in Kerala too. The socio-economic and ecological
significance o f this ecosystem is to be studied in detail for assisting policy decisions
when confronted with the conservation-development debate. This study was
undertaken in this background.
The study identified the stakeholders o f mangrove ecosystems o f Kerala and
quantified the level o f dependence o f local communities for their livelihood and
estimated the aggregate demand for products and services. Further, it identified and
quantified the relative influence o f socioeconomic, institutional, climatic and
anthropogenic forces on the destruction of mangroves and finally assessed the Total
Economic Value (TEV) o f mangrove system and suggested policy prescriptions for
the conservation and management of mangroves in Kerala.
The study was conducted in the mangrove areas o f Emakulam and Kannur districts of
Kerala. These two districts accounted for nearly 65 per cent o f the mangroves o f the
state. The study was based on primary and secondary data. The primary data was
gathered from 480 respondents belonging to four identified stakeholder groups
(residents, fishermen, paddy farmers and general public), selected through simple
random sampling method. Data was collected through personal interview using
structured pretested interview schedule along with direct observation. The major tools
of data analysis were Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and Choice experiment.
The data collection was conducted during June 2012 to January 2013.
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Four stakeholder groups o f the mangrove ecosystem in the study area were residents
living close to mangroves (<1 km from mangroves), fishermen (inland fishermen and
women, engaged in shell mining and clam collection, shrimp farmers), paddy farmers
(Pokkali and Kaippad) and general public (resides away from the mangroves).
The residents were depending on the mangroves for extraction o f fuel wood, fodder
and poles. On an average the level o f extraction was 307 kg o f fuel wood, 1024 kg of
fodder and 14(no.) o f poles per year valued at X 4628/household. This amounted to 3
per cent o f their annual household income. The major species o f fish catch by the
fishermen were Etroplus, shrimp, crab and Tilapia which was quantified at 1553 kg/
year valued at X 1,41,045. Shell mining which was found to be a major economic
activity in Kannur region could generate an income of X 30,000/annum through the
extraction and sale o f 7500 kg o f shells. Clam collected was quantified at 225 kg/year
valued at X 5625. Thus, the average gross income from these activities was estimated
at X 1,77,164 per year which was the main source o f income for the household. About
8 per cent of the fishermen were involved in shrimp farming and were mainly from
Kannur district. The size o f the farm varied from 0.4 to 2 ha. The input cost/ha was X
2.8 lakhs which includes cost o f seed, feed, lime and water management. Labour cost
was estimated at X 77,000. Hence total cost and returns o f shrimp farming/ha was X
3.27 and 4.75 lakhs respectively with net income o f ? 1.48 lakhs. Pokkali and Kaippad
agricultural systems are proved to be closely interconnected with the:.mangrove
ecosystem and the per hectare gross returns was X 60,007 and X 40,935 respectively.
This amounted to average 30 per cent o f their household income.
The respondents’ perception on the pattern of change and the major factors that
effected the change in mangrove ecosystem was studied based on their responses. 46
per cent o f the respondents were o f the opinion that the mangrove ecosystem has
declined over years and facing threat. The major factors responsible for the same were
reported as anthropogenic, climatic forces and status o f property rights. The
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developmental interventions like LNG Petronet Terminal, Puthuvypeen and ICTT
Vallarpadam has resulted in large scale conversion o f mangrove areas. The
contradictory forces o f development and conservation led to destruction of mangrove
ecosystem. One fifth respondents opined that climatic factors were responsible for the
decline. Nearly 85 per cent of the mangroves in the state were reported to be under
private ownership and rest under public. The property right status along with
economic status influences the rate o f depletion. The legal interventions and
community and institutional efforts also influence the status of mangroves, most often
positively.
The economic valuation of ecological benefits o f mangroves was attempted employing
the Contingent Valuation Method. The respondents expressed their willingness to
contribute towards conservation both in cash and kind (cash payment and manual
participation as labour and as volunteer in awareness programmes) and in
combination. The average WTP expressed by the respondents was f 2308/annum the
range being ? 50-28,870. The TEV of the mangrove ecosystem of the state was thus ?
1,17,947 million, which was 0.14 per cent ofthe GSDP (2011-12).
A socially preferred management plan was identified among a set of alternatives,
employing the choice experiment method. Among the management options given, the
stakeholders preferred community management (41.6%) followed by public
management (29.2%) and status quo (21.4%). The community management of the
mangrove ecosystem provides opportunity for the local community to participate in
management decision process. At the same time, the importance o f public funding for
such activities is revealed in the analysis.
The study suggests initiating scientific attempts on realistic area estimation and
mapping o f the mangrove resources in the state. There should be attempts to identify
and classify the species and document the traditional wisdom associated with them.
Region specific studies are needed to establish and quantify the extent of association
between mangrove ecosystem and the livelihood activities of local communities. The
TEV justifies the increased resources allocation for the conservation efforts. Further,
the implementation of community management system as institutional form for
mangrove management in the state is suggested.
Description
PhD
Keywords
Citation
173240