The value of the Ecological Station of Jataí's ecosystem services and natural capital

Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Driving Force of Ecosystem Health in an Important Ecological Function Region in China

Quantitative assessment can scientifically determine the health status of a regional ecosystem, identify regional eco-environmental problems, and assist in promoting regional sustainable development and environmental management. Taking China's important ecological function region, the Yellow River affected area as an example, this study constructed an extended evaluation index system based on the pressure-state-response framework, and remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to dynamically evaluate the spatial and temporal characteristics of ecosystem health in the study area. Furthermore, influencing factors on ecosystem health in the study area were extensively analyzed using the GeoDetector model. The results show that the ecosystem health level in the study area shows significant spatial heterogeneity from 1995-2015, and showed a fluctuating change process. Areas with large fluctuations in health level were mainly distributed in extreme climate areas, ecologically fragile areas, on plains and in hilly areas. Spatial differences of ecosystem health were well explained by using the biological abundance index, relief degree of land surface, soil type, annual average precipitation, elevation, annual average temperature, and population density. Influencing factors have significant interactive effects on ecosystem health.

Economic valuation of the Emas waterfall, Mogi-Guaçu River, SP, Brazil

The Emas waterfall in Mogi-Guaçu River is regionally recognized as an important fishing spot and touristic place. The first reports of the professional and sport fishing there date back from the 30's, which is the same period when the tourism took place. The present paper provides an environmental valuation of this place and an assessment of the differences among the major groups of people using the area. During 2006 we interviewed 33 professional fishers, 107 sport fishers, 45 tourists and 103 excursionists in order to estimate the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for each category and to analyze the influence of socioeconomic factors by means of logistic regressions and ANCOVAs. The WTP of professional fisher was significantly influenced by age and education, and the WTP for the sport fishers was influenced by the family income. The variables that influenced the tourists' and excursionists' WTP were sex and education. The total annual aggregated value to maintain the waterfall in the current conditions was estimated in US$ 11.432.128, and US$ 55.424.283 to restore it.

Pollination of Byrsonima coccolobifolia: short-distance isolation and possible causes for low fruit production

Byrsonima coccolobifolia is a tropical plant from the Malpighiaceae family, distributed in the neotropical savanna fields and pollinated by bees known as "collecting-oil bees". In this study, conducted in a Cerrado area located on a farm in the city of Silvânia, GO, the following hypothesis was tested: the greater the isolation degree of a plant, the lower its fruit production due to access difficulties for pollinators. Using a linear regression analysis, it was possible to relate the fruiting rate with the degree of isolation of each B. coccolobifolia individual and consequently it was found that the isolation had no influence on the pollination rate, an unexpected event that can be explained by the distance amongst individuals not being large enough to limit the movement of pollinators, or because cross-pollination was not the predominant form of reproduction, since the rate of cross-pollination was similar to self-pollination. It was also found that the proportion of fruits produced was lower than expected, a factor which may also have influenced the results.

An ecological economics approach to estimate the value of a fragmented wetland in Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul state)

The Upper Paraná River floodplain is the last lotic stretch of an ecosystem seriously threatened given that circa 50% of the original ecosystem has been converted into reservoirs. To assess the recreational value of the Upper Paraná River floodplain, 174 tourists were interviewed using the Willingness to Pay - WTP and Travel Cost - TC methods. The annual aggregated WTP attributed by tourists was US$ 122.50 million and the variables which determine the decision in willingness to pay for the Floodplain are: 'consider oneself as a Floodplain natural resources consumer' and 'marital state'. If the single person considers her/himself as a consumer of floodplain natural resources, the WTP increases by a multiplicative factor of 38.8. The value aggregated by the TC method was US$ 234 millions and decreased by zone as the distance increases. Higher income and traveling farther increases the travel cost, which is inversely related to annual trip frequency. The total recreational value (356.5 millions per year) is high and representative since it refers to an environment fragmented by dams and with many anthropogenic effects. Therefore, the progressive changes on the landscape are a threat to local tourism, since half of the visitors are attracted solely by the scenic beauty, thereby overtaking those factors considered more important by public decision makers and managers, such as recreational fishery or boating.