On the use of shadow price of biodiversity in natural resource management: The case of Uludag National Park

Abstract

Although biodiversity provides many use and non-use values for humans, we witness their disappearance as the values of these services are not considered in the economic system. Values such as pharmaceutical raw material supply value, agricultural germplasm support value, ecotourism value and ecosystem value are actually services that have an important role in the functioning of economic life. The aim of this study is to reveal the value of biological diversity in mountain-forest ecosystems and to examine its effects on natural resource management. The value of biodiversity, which is one of the natural resource values of Bursa Uludag National Park (UMP), was investigated at optimal forest rotation calculations. Faustman rotation system, in which the biodiversity value was not taken into account, and the Hartman rotation system, in which the biodiversity value was taken into account were considered in this study. It is concluded that the UMP has a rotation of approximately 44 years in the basic model calculated with the Faustmann approach. UMP reaches its net present value of 956 USD / Ha in the 44th year. When evaluated with the real area of UMP, its highest present value has been calculated as 12.2 million USD. In the Hartman rotation, it was observed that the previous rotation period, which was 44 years, increased to 53 years. In Hartman rotation, the present value of 5.294 USD / Ha is reached in the 53rd year. When the results obtained are generalized to the total area of the UMP, it is revealed how valuable the ecosystem service biodiversity actually provides. If the biodiversity value (calculated at shadow prices) at the beginning of rotation is large enough, the optimum rotation period is likely to extend to infinity. In this case, it is understood that the natural resource in question is one of the ecologically sensitive natural resources and it should be very careful in public allocation decisions. In our country, areas with sensitive ecosystems should be clearly identified and advisory boards should be established for the management of such areas, with many interest groups. The biodiversity flow value determined by the use of 'impact transfer' and 'primary production network' methods paired with carbon securization contributes to the appraisal literature on the approaches to determine Faustmann and Hartman forest rotation.