ecosystem services: providing economically sustainable ... · ecosystem services: providing...
TRANSCRIPT
Ecosystem Services: Providing
Economically Sustainable Options for
Forest Industries in Rural Coastal
Communities
Priscilla Morris
Graduate Research Assistant
Sudipta Dasmohapatra (Associate Professor)
Department of Forest Biomaterials
North Carolina State University
59th International Convention SWST, Curitiba, Brazil
March 6-10, 2016Source:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Rain_forest_along_Olympic_Coast.jpg
Overview
• Objectives
• Ecosystem Services Overview
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusion
Objectives
• Assess
–Business owner perceptions of regional
•Economic viability
•Potential new markets
•Opportunities and barriers to grow and sustain
• Determine
–Strategies to improve local economy utilizing
•Viable/Sustainable Ecosystem services
•Market options for Forest Industries in Rural
Coastal Communities
Source: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOgZqVd67aCEPmfOnas9EePxRP-ZN00JBuDDrBm1So7Tr5P1oN5w
Ecosystem Services Dimensions• Definition: Human benefits from ecosystems
– Provisioning
– Regulating
– Cultural
– Supporting
• Advantages: Crucial to sustaining human societies
– Carbon sequestration
– Water purification
– Habitat for millions of species
• Valuation: Payments for Ecosystem
Services
– Incentivize the sustainable use of forested lands Source: (Payments for Forest Ecosystem Services in the US, (Mercer & Cooley, 2011))
Methodology
• Region–Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, North Carolina
• Data Collection
– Data Collection: In-person interviews (Nov/Dec 2015), 2-3 hours
each (using a semi-structured questionnaire)
– Sampling Frame: Randomly selected business owners
– Study Region: Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Washington and Tyrrell
counties
– Demographics: Avg. poverty rate (22%) vs. national avg. (14.5%)
Avg. unemployment (9.6%) vs. State average (4%)
– Analysis: Transcription and coding
Source: (US Census Bureau, 2014)
Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula
15%
41%23%
21%
Land Mass Utilized for Industrial Natural Resource Production
PublicTimberlandPrivateTimberlandAgriculture Land
Other
342.80 367.40
1,074.00
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Forestry (2012) Agriculture (2012) Tourism (2013)
$ M
il
Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula's Natural Resources Industry Economic
Contribution ($ mil)
5% Of
the
State
3% Of
the
State
2% Of
the
State
Source: US Geospatial Data
Gateway (Anonymous, 2014 b)
Source: NC State Forestry Extension
(Anonymous, 2015) USDA AG
STATS (Anonymous, 2014a) & NC
Tourism Commerce (Anonymous,
2013)
North Carolina
Business Owner Perceptions of Region’s
Economic Viability
Utilize Natural
Resources / Ecosystem
Services
Opportunities
Fast food
Region cannot support
new business
Barriers
Farming Poor Infrastructure
Local Government
Health Care
Location
Flooding
Payments for Forest-Based Services by
Stakeholders
2005 2006 2007
% of Total Payments in
2007Government 378,075 380,608 365,619 19.4%Non-governmentCarbon Offsets 567 1,552 1,692 0.1%Conservation
Easements 162,074 195,435 314,999 16.7%
Hunting Lease/ Fees 404,517 404,690 410,236 21.7%Wildlife Viewing 30,559 31,569 33,537 1.8%
Conservation Banks 34,000 34,000 34,000 1.8%Wetland Mitigation
Banks 727,111 727,111 727,111 38.5%Total Non-Government 1,358,828 1,394,358 1,521,575 80.6%
Total Payments 1,736,903 1,774,965 1,887,194
Source: Payments for Forest Ecosystem Services in the US (Mercer & Cooley, 2011)
* Note: $ Value in (in 1000s of Constant 2005$)
Potential Industry and Community Benefits
• Industry benefits
– Increase alternative market opportunities
– Market resiliency to environmental stressors
– Partnership creates positive advertisement
– Increased leasing opportunities
• Industry supports communities
– Community leases rights to utilize forested lands
• Seasonally
• Provides the landowner the opportunity to double
income from leasing
Conclusions
• Ecosystem service markets opportunities for the AP Region
– Bundled Services
• Partnerships with Government & Non-Government
Organizations
– Farm Bill, Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental
Quality Incentives Program
– Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Conservation
Fund, Ducks Unlimited
– Major Landowners
• Ecosystem Service Valuation
• Potential negative impacts of increased Ecosystem utilization
Questions?
Resources
• Anonymous. (2015). Economic Impact Data. NC State University A&T State University
Cooperative Extension. 2013. Available at: http://forestry.ces.ncsu.edu/economic-impact-data/
• Anonymous. (2014)a. Agricultural Statistics - Summary of Commodities by County. NCDA&CS.
Available at: http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/codata/
• Anonymous, (2014)b. United States Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation
Service. Geo-spatial Data Gateway. USDA, Available at:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/nra/geo/
• Anonymous, (2013).Tourism, Department of Commerce. NC Tourism Research NC Fast Facts.
Available at: https://www.nccommerce.com/tourism/research/economic-impact
• Carpenter, Dean E., and Lindsay Dubbs. 2012 Albemarle-Pamlico Ecosystem Assessment.
Raleigh, NC: Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, 2012. Print.
• Krieger, Douglas J. (2001). The Economic Value of Forest Ecosystem Services: A Review.
Washington, D.C.: Wilderness Society.
• Mercer, D. Evan., David M. Cooley, and Katherine Hamilton. (2011).Taking Stock: Payments for
Forest Ecosystem Services in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Forest Trends.
• United States Census Bureau. (2014). Available at:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37013.html
Estimated Ecosystem Service Market
Values U.S. Forests
Source: (Economic Value of Forest Ecosystem Services, (Krieger, 2001))
Source: (Payments for Forest Ecosystem Services in the US, (Mercer & Cooley, 2011))
Ecosystem Service
Payments
North Carolina
Source: US Geospatial Data Gateway (Anonymous, 2014 b)
Region’s Natural Resource Base
Source: NC State Forestry Extension (Anonymous, 2015) USDA AG STATS (Anonymous, 2014a) & NC Tourism Commerce (Anonymous, 2013)
342.80 367.40
1,074.00
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Forestry (2012) Agriculture (2012) Tourism (2013)
$ M
il
Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula's Natural Resources Industry Economic Contribution
($ mil)
5% Of
the
State
3% Of
the
State
2% Of
the
State
15%
41%23%
21%
Land Mass Utilized for Industrial Natural Resource Production
Public Timberland
PrivateTimberland
Agriculture Land
Other
*Note: 1982 Data Source US Soil Conservation Service National Resource Inventory, (Carpenter & Dubbs, 2012), 2006 & 2011 Data Source USDA National Land Cover Data: USDA Geospatial Data Gateway (Anonymous, 2013b)
Change in Land Cover Over Time on the
AP Peninsula
Potential Partnerships
• Government
– Farm Bill
– Conservation Stewardship Program
– Environmental Quality Incentives Program
• Non-Government Organizations
– Nature Conservancy
– Trusts for Public Land
– Conservation Fund
– North Carolina Coastal Federation
– Ducks Unlimited and Similar Organizations
– Major Landowners
Business Owner Perceptions of Region’s Economic Viability
Interview Viable Business In this Region Advantages of the Location Disadvantages Utilized Marketing Strategies
1Don't impact the environment, retail such as payless shoes and dollar general, parks, tourist attractions such as nature tours, beaches to access, fast food
Ability to accommodate hunters, fishers, outer banks visitors
Only one way in and out of the area, storms shut down the road, Insurance, can't rely on local employment, local government doesn't look out for residents Word of mouth and good business
2 No faith in new business success, no people to support it
Direct access to the lake and boat ramp, accommodate hunters, fishers, campers
Flooding problems from the lake, rural location is sometimes hard to find Word of mouth and social media
3
Fast foodPlenty of farm land, good people around, safety
Medical care is over 60 miles away, water is under control so far but could become a problem
Main grainery in the area, did not need marketing strategies
4
Ecotourism if the infrastructure was there to support it, bird watching, bear tours, refuge visitation, hunting and fishing, quality guide service
Close to the lake, the outer banks, and the natural resourcesin the area
Remoteness, lack of infrastructure, cell service, internet, lack of proximal health care Word of mouth
5No business is profitable in this region
Close to water, easy access for boats Daily aggravation No marketing
6
Marina already established. Internet, website with a link to financing, newspaper, radio, word of mouth, welcome bags for boaters traveling into the area.
7 No infrastucture, very poor, cant support new business
Scuppernong river produces good grapes, Winery next to the visitors center
Convenience of more urban areas such as fast food and other services Community acceptance, word of mouth
8
Farming
Close to the water, easy access for boats, 7-15 boats a week during shrimp season
Small community, and it is getting smaller No real marketing strategies
Natural Resource Based Terminology, Natural Resource Utilizers, Infrastructure related issues, Risks to their region and business
Conclusions
• Difficult to capture the current economic impact of
ecosystem services and ecotourism in the region
• Business owners believe that the expansion of
ecotourism and utilization of their natural resources is
the best sustainable and economic option
– Infrastructure and workforce pose problems
– Need support and partnership from community and
local government
• Need to assess valuation of the ecosystem services for
the region
Ecosystem Markets Utilized by Forest
Industry in NC
• In 2007
– Carbon - ? Nation = .09%
– Biodiversity- 11-25%
– Bundled Services – 76- 99%• General conservation activates which provide a range of benefits
including, the provision of multiple ecosystem services
• Examples of payments: government conservation programs,
wetland and stream mitigation, and purchase of conservation
easements by land trusts
Changes in land cover type over time:
Source: USDA Geospatial Data Gateway (Anonymous, 2013)
Land Cover Type (On the AP) Percent Change (2006 to 2011)
Evergreen Forest -5.75%Cropland -0.80%Mixed Forest -0.39%Deciduous Forest -0.16%
Developed, Open Space 0.00%
Pasture/ Hay 0.00%
Developed, Medium Intensity 0.02%
Developed, High Intensity 0.04%
Barren Land 0.08%
Developed, Low Intensity 0.17%
Grassland 0.45%Scrub/ Shrub 1.62%
Emergent Herbaceous Wetland 2.03%
Woody Wetlands 2.68%
Current Utilization of Ecotourism in the
AP
• Private:
– Guide Services:• Hunting
• Fishing
• Wildlife Tours
– Bird Watching
• How involved is the Forest Industry?
– Leasing?
Why Ecotourism?
• Region heavily relies on its natural resources
• Large numbers of tourists move through the region to
visit the outer banks
• Ecotourism is the fastest growing portion of the tourism
industry
• Community recognizes it as a viable economic option
• How Ecosystem based business and Ecotourism can
benefit both the Forest Industry and the Community
– Incentives/assistance for community members to
operate ecotourism based businesses• In turn they lease rights from timber land owners to utilize their
property for their business (Dare to Hyde Adventures is a good
example not sure if they lease?)
• Kayaking, nature tours, bird watching
Source: NC State Forestry Extension USDA AG STATS & NC Tourism Commerce
Perceptions of Business owners in the
community
• Perception of current condition of their area (physically,
economically, viability of new business)
• Perception of climate change risks
– To the region (physically, economically)
– To their business (physically, economically)
– What can they do?
Results
• Their suggestions for what types of businesses would
thrive in the area
– Ecosystem Based businesses: Hunting, Guiding, Bird
Watching, Kayaking etc (capture tourist going to the
OBX
– Fast food, dollar general, payless shoes etc
Utilize
Natural
Resources /
Ecosystem
Services
Opportunities
Fast
food
Region
cannot
support
new
business
Barriers
FarmingPoor
Infrastructure
Local
Govt.
Health
Care
Location
Flooding