Seagrass Bed Ecosystem Service Valuation: A Case Research on Hepu Seagrass Bed in Guangxi Province

Abstract

Seagrass bed ecosystem is a coastal ecosystem with abundant biodiversity and high production. It is also an important system for the sustainable development of human society and economy. Based on the local research, statistical data and prevenient research results, the main services of Hepu seagrass ecosystem were analyzed in the paper, including fishing production, nutrient cycling, scientific research, protecting the coast from eroding, climate regulation, biodiversity, culture, bequest valuation, option valuation and existence valuation and so on. At the same time, we used ecological and economic methods for economic evaluation of seagrass in Hepu of Guangxi, including the market valuation method, contingent valuation method, carbon and tax method, benefit transfer method and expert survey method. The results showed that the total valuation of the Hepu seagrass ecosystem service was about 6.29 × 105 Yuan RMB/ha in 2005. Among these services, the indirect using valuation is the main aspect, which was 4.47 × 105Yuan RMB/ha in 2005, accounting for 70.97 % of the total valuation. The non-using valuation was 1.54 × 105 Yuan RMB/ha in 2005, accounting for 24.52 % of the total valuation. The direct using valuation is the least, which was only 2.84 × 104 Yuan RMB/ha in 2005, accounting for 4.51 % of the total valuation.