| dc.description.abstract | Valuation of ecosystem services IS basically concerned with the functions or biophysical
processes that take place within ecosystems, which in turn generates particular goods and
services for humankind. Ecosystem services can simply be defined as the conditions and
relationships through which natural ecosystems and the species that make them up, sustain
and fulfil the needs of human life. The exact nature and magnitude of these services will
depend on the type, size, complexity and physical characteristics, state and management of
the ecosystem in question. Valuation is the process of expressing a value for a particular
action or object. Ecosystem valuation represents the process of expressing a value for
ecosystem goods and services, thereby providing the opportunity for scientific observation
and measurement. Despite a lack of direct markets, ecosystem services support other
production processes and their absence has an impact on economic activities.
The main thrust of the project was to determine the ecosystem services values and
demonstrate their .influence on land use and wealth generation within Shornpole group ranch.
The aim is to explore the perceived and marketed values of ecosystem services and the
significance of their- influence on land use and poverty reduction among Shornpole Group
Ranch community. The Shornpole wetlands are strategically located to provide diverse
environmental services locally, regionally and internationally. The values of these ecosystem
services are however not reflected in the local economics and by extension in the
community's livelihoods. The study will explore the linkages of ecosystem services, land use
and wealth creation as a basis of supporting local economic livelihoods. An important
objective of valuing ecosystem services is to provide an improved basis for designing better
land and resource use policies and management systems. But even as the values for
ecosystem goods and services are calculated, the major challenge is to factor these values in
the decision-making processes.
For the purpose of this study the following ecosystem services with respect to Shornpole
Wetland were valued;
I. Water cleansing and detoxification service from river Ewaso-Ngiro to Lake Natron
II. Flood and storm protection
III. B iod iversity support and ma intenance
IV. Nutrients storage and cycling -
V
From the valuation of the services at the Shornpole wetland that were conducted in this
survey the following are the service values:
a) Water cleansing ecosystem services - US$ 2,529,257,473 pa
b) Flood and storm protection to Lake Narron - US$ 11,819,091 p.a.
c) Habitat service provision to biodiversity - US$ 1,033,833 p.a.
d) Nutrients storage and cycling (for nitrogen only) -
Total value for the valued ecosystems services -
US$ 577,396 p.a
US$2,542,687,793 p.a
From the survey it is evident that the main uses of the swamps ecosystem goods and services
are mainly to survive drought, to provide daily requirements such as water, and to avoid long
distance pastures for the weak animals. These are important economic activities for the local
cornmunity and for the region. However although the community perceives the swam p as
important in their lives, they don't look at those benefits in ecosystem economic terms.
Failure to value the services of the swamp results to partial appreciation of the swamp mainly
from direct goods and benefits, and mostly ignoring the functional services that have a long
term impact to the survival of the community in terms of drought resilience water supply and
nutrient cycling which in turns sustains their means of wealth creation thereby improving
their livelihoods and alleviating poverty.
The overall conclusion is that valuation of ecosystem services is very important for decision
making on management and conservation of natural habitats. In the past the concept of
ecosystems have not been properly understood by the decision makers at various levels but
through the valuation of ecosystem services it is easy to understand why there is need to have
an integrated approach to conservation and environmental protection. It also demonstrates
that wetlands and idle bush land are not wastelands but contributes functionally through
ecosystem services to other Iife supporting processes. The notion of the Kenya government to
tax idle land is therefore misinformed as it can only accelerate the loss of natural land to
agriculture and other conversion land uses which have lesser value than provision of
ecosystem services. Valuation of ecosystem services is a powerful economic tool of
intervention on a majority of environmental matters such as preservation of indigenous
forests, conservation of water catchments areas, protection of wetlands and conservation of
wildlife areas as the values easily catches the imagination of the - resource custodians making
it easy to change their attitudes positively towards making rational management and
utilization decisions that will sustain ecosystems functionality. | en |
