Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Goods and Services in Coastal Villages on the Central Coast of La Guaira (Venezuela) Using the Network Analysis Process as a Management Tool for Conservation
Research on the Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Goods and Services (EGS) in the coastal towns of La Guaira (Osma, Oritapo, Todasana, Urama, and La Sabana), using the Analytic Network Process (ANP), highlights the critical need to integrate sustainability dimensions into land management. Economic valuation is established as a strategic tool that transcends mere quantification, being crucial to combat the invisibility of environmental benefits by translating them into terms understandable to decision-makers. This is vital given that the pressure of economic development, such as urban expansion and the creation of the Special Economic Zone, threatens the resilience of these fragile ecosystems. Assigning a monetary value, such as the EVT of US$24,410,864.79, strengthens the legitimacy of conservation and creates a common language between technicians, authorities, and communities. The criterion with the highest weighting, “Water Supply” (valued at US$6,220,800 per month), reflects a clear alignment between social need and economic value. However, economic valuation is only the foundation for the design and implementation of a Comprehensive Management Plan, which must be unified for the entire marine-coastal ecosystem, addressing long-term sustainability through monitoring, evaluation, financing mechanisms, and transparency. An essential component for the legitimacy and success of this plan is community participation and awareness, especially in an area where cultural identity is intertwined with the use of natural resources. The use of participatory methodologies such as ANP allows for the integration of the perceptions of various key actors. Therefore, the management plan should include the training of public officials and the implementation of awareness-raising strategies to change perceptions and encourage a Willingness to Pay (WTP) that reflects the real value of natural capital. In short, valuation is a bridge between science and policy, indispensable for inclusive management that, by highlighting the economic contribution of natural capital and integrating the community's voice, reinforces the defense of this natural and social heritage in the face of global challenges. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Goods and Services in Coastal Villages on the Central Coast of La Guaira (Venezuela) Using the Network Analysis Process as a Management Tool for Conservation
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.813552515121
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Palavras-chave: Economic valuation, Network Analysis Process, Ecosystem Services, Management Plan, SDG 14
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Keywords: Economic valuation, Network Analysis Process, Ecosystem Services, Management Plan, SDG 14
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Abstract: Research on the Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Goods and Services (EGS) in the coastal towns of La Guaira (Osma, Oritapo, Todasana, Urama, and La Sabana), using the Analytic Network Process (ANP), highlights the critical need to integrate sustainability dimensions into land management. Economic valuation is established as a strategic tool that transcends mere quantification, being crucial to combat the invisibility of environmental benefits by translating them into terms understandable to decision-makers. This is vital given that the pressure of economic development, such as urban expansion and the creation of the Special Economic Zone, threatens the resilience of these fragile ecosystems. Assigning a monetary value, such as the EVT of US$24,410,864.79, strengthens the legitimacy of conservation and creates a common language between technicians, authorities, and communities. The criterion with the highest weighting, “Water Supply” (valued at US$6,220,800 per month), reflects a clear alignment between social need and economic value. However, economic valuation is only the foundation for the design and implementation of a Comprehensive Management Plan, which must be unified for the entire marine-coastal ecosystem, addressing long-term sustainability through monitoring, evaluation, financing mechanisms, and transparency. An essential component for the legitimacy and success of this plan is community participation and awareness, especially in an area where cultural identity is intertwined with the use of natural resources. The use of participatory methodologies such as ANP allows for the integration of the perceptions of various key actors. Therefore, the management plan should include the training of public officials and the implementation of awareness-raising strategies to change perceptions and encourage a Willingness to Pay (WTP) that reflects the real value of natural capital. In short, valuation is a bridge between science and policy, indispensable for inclusive management that, by highlighting the economic contribution of natural capital and integrating the community's voice, reinforces the defense of this natural and social heritage in the face of global challenges. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
- Frontado - Brito, Yazenia
