Title : Socioeconomic values of mangrove ecosystems in the Kapatchez Delta, Western Guinea
Abstract:
Mangrove ecosystems are valuable resources. They provide habitats for flora and fauna, protect the coasts from erosion and supply various products to local communities. Mangroves are currently over-exploited, and their natural resources are dwindling over time. The present study aims to estimate the ecological and socio-economic value of mangrove ecosystem services (provisioning and regulating) in the Kapatchez delta, using the market price and contingent valuation methods. The socio-economic survey covered 60% of households in the 3 main districts (Kouffin, M’Botiny, Binary and Taigbe) around the delta.
The total economic value of agricultural products, fishery resources and water supply (mangrove provisioning services) was $ 646,291, $ 173,452 and US $ 40,953 per year respectively. While erosion control and climate regulation (regulating services) have been valued at $ 40,281 and $ 435,638,267 per year. Notwithstanding the monetary evaluation of only two categories of ecosystem services delivered by the Kapatchez Delta mangrove ecosystem, their cumulative benefits amount to much more than $400 million, showing the high value of these ecosystems to local populations, and underpinning the urgent need to preserve the mangrove forests.
Keywords: mangrove, ecosystem services, economic valuation, Kapatchez delta, policy support.
