Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Economic valuation of kelp forests in northern Chile: values of goods and services of the ecosystem

  • Published:
Journal of Applied Phycology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Kelp beds, besides being one of the most important benthic resources in northern Chile, provide a variety of environmental goods and services. In order to evaluate economically the wild kelp populations in northern Chile (26° to 32° S) more than simply their commercial value as a source of raw materials for alginate extraction, we used several economic indicators to holistically assess the value of a group of brown seaweeds of economic importance, Lessonia spp. and Macrocystis pyrifera: (1) market value of biomass as a source of raw material for extraction of alginic acid, (2) market value of associated species of economic importance, (3) value as a source of scientific information, (4) value as a climate buffer (CO2 capture and release of O2), (5) value of associated biodiversity (non-commercial species), (6) value as cultural heritage and (7) value as a reservoir of biodiversity. Existence values of kelp beds which estimate the willingness of citizens to pay and work without payment to preserve the ecosystem were calculated using the contingent valuation technique. The results indicate that kelp beds in northern Chile have a total value of US $540 million. Of this total, kelp fishery accounts for 75 % and associated-species fisheries account for 15 %. In this context, the economic value of Chilean kelp beds is mainly associated with the industry of alginate extraction. By contrast, existence value as a source of scientific information or environmental buffer for CO2 capture or O2 production represents only 9 % of the total value, representing a very low relative importance to society. The economic valuation of coastal resources and marine ecosystems is a complementary tool for decision making and implementation of public policies related to the conservation and sustainable exploitation of renewable resources and their ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdullha MI, Fredriksen S (2004) Production, respiration and exudation of dissolved organic matter by the kelp Laminaria hyperborea along the west coast of Norway. J Mar Biol Ass UK 84:887–894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breeman AM (1990) Expected effects of changing seawater temperatures on the geographic distribution of seaweed species. In: Baukema JJ, Wolff WJ, Brouns JJWM (eds) Expected effects of climate change on marine coastal ecosystems. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 69–76

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chung IK, Beardall J, Mehta S, Sahoo D, Stojkovic S (2011) Using marine macroalgae for carbon sequestration: a critical appraisal. J Appl Phycol 23:877–886

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colombo-Pallota MF, García-Mendoza E, Ladah LB (2006) Photosynthetic performance, light absorption, and pigment composition of Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) blades from different depths. J Phycol 42:1225–1234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebarvia M, Corazón M (1999) Total economic valuation: coastal and marine resources in the straits of Malacca. MPP-EAS Technical Report No.24/PEMSEA Technical Report No. 2. 52pp.

  • Daily GC, Polasky S, Goldstain J, Kareiva PM, Mooney HA, Pejchar L, Ricketts TH, Salzman J, Shallenberger R (2009) Ecosystem services in decision-making: time to deliver. Front Ecol Environ 7(21):28

    Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK (1985) Ecology of kelp communities. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 16:215–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Groot RS, Wilson MA, Boumans RMJ (2002) A typology for the classification, description and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services. Ecol Econ 41:393–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon JA, Fallon L, Carpenter RA, Sherman PB (1994) Economic analysis of environmental impacts. Earthscan, London, 210 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham MH, Vásquez JA, Buschmann AH (2007) Global ecology of the giant kelp Macrocystis: from ecotypes to ecosystems. Oceanogr Mar Biol 45:39–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Godoy N, Gelcich S, Vásquez JA, Castilla JC (2010) Source spearfishing to depletion: evidence from temperate reef fishes in Chile. Ecol Appl 20:1504–1511

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez AV, Beltran J, Hiriart-Bertrand L, Flores V, de Reviers B, Correa JA, Santelices B (2012) Identification of cryptic species in the Lessonia nigrescens complex (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales). J Phycol 58:1153–1165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrington R, Anton C, Dawson TP, de Bello F, Feld CK, Haslett JR, Kluvankova-Oravská T, Kontogianni A, Lavorel S, Luck GW, Rounsevell MDA, Samways MJ, Settele J, Skourtos M, Spangenberg JH, Vandewalle M, Zobel M, Harrison PA (2010) Ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation: concepts and a glossary. Biodivers Conserv 19:27732790

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann A Santelices B (1997) Flora marina de Chile central. Ediciones de la Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 434 pp

  • Kashiyama Y (2013) Unlocking seaweed potential as biomass with synthetic biology and aquafarming. Abstracts. 21 International Seaweed Symposium April 21–26, 2013 Bali, Indonesia: 131.

  • Kolstad CD (2010) Environmental economics, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York, 496 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobban CS, Harrison PJ (1994) Seaweed ecology and physiology. Cambridge University Press, London, 366 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Menzel S, Kappel CV, Broitman BR, Micheli F, Rosenberg AA (2013) Linking human activity and ecosystem condition to inform marine ecosystem based management. Aquatic Conserv 23:506–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mondaca-Schachermayer CI, Aburto J, Cundill G, Lancellotti D, Tapia C, Stotz W (2011) An empirical analysis of the social and ecological outcomes of state subsidies for small-scale fisheries: a case study from Chile. Ecol Soc 16:17

    Google Scholar 

  • Nellemann C, Corcoran E, Duarte CM, Valdés L, de Young C, Fonseca L, Grimsditch G (2009) Blue carbón. A rapid response assessment. United Nations Environment Programme, GRIS-Arendal, www.grida.no.

  • O´Dowd CD, Jimenez JL, Bahreini R, Flagan RC, Seinfeld JH, Hämeri K, Pirjola L, Kulmala M, Jennings SG, Hoffmann T (2002) Marine particle formation from biogenic iodine emissions. Nature 417:632–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramachandra TV, Rajinikanth R, Ranjiní R (2005) Economic valuation of wetland. J Environ Biol 26:439–447

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rönnbäck P (1999) The ecological basis for economic value of seafood production supported by mangrove ecosystems. Ecol Econ 29:235–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santelices B (1989) Algas Marinas de Chile, Distribución, Ecología, Utilización y Diversidad. Ediciones Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. 399 pp.

  • Sharpe WF (1964) Capital asset prices: a theory of market equilibrium under conditions of risk. J Financ 19:425–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith RG, Wheeler WN, Srivastava LM (1983) Seasonal photosynthetic performance of Macrocystis integrifolia (Phaeophyceae). J Phycol 19:352–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tala F, Edding M (2007) Production of Lessonia trabeculata and Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) in northern Chile. Phycol Res 55:66–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2007) Guidelines for conducting economic valuation of coastal ecosystem goods and services. UNEP/GEF/SCS Technical Publication No. 8, 42 pp.

  • Vásquez JA (1992) Lessonia trabeculata, a subtidal bottom kelp in northern Chile: a case of study for a structural and geographical comparison. In: Seeliger U (ed) Coastal plant communities of Latin America. Academic, San Diego, pp 77–89

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vásquez JA (2008) Production, use and fate of Chilean brown seaweeds: re-sources for a sustainable fishery. J Appl Phycol 20:457–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vásquez JA, Donoso G (2013) Ecology of Loxechinus albus. In: Laurence JM (ed) Sea urchins: biology and ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 285–296

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vásquez JA, Vega JMA (2004) Ecosistemas marinos costeros del Parque Nacional Bosque Fray Jorge. In: Squeo FA, Gutiérrez JR, Hernández IR (eds.) Historia Natural del Parque Nacional Bosque Fray Jorge. Ediciones Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, pp. 233–250

  • Vásquez JA, Piaget N, Vega JMA (2012) Chilean Lessonia nigrescens fishery in northern Chile: how do you harvest is more important than how much do you harvest. J Appl Phycol 24:417–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vásquez JA, Tala F, Vega A, Zuñiga S, Edding M, Piaget N (2008) Bases ecológicas y evaluación de usos alternativos para el manejo de praderas de algas pardas de la III y IV Regiones. Informe Final Proyecto FIP 2005–32 160 pp.

  • Zúñiga-Jara S, Tala F, Vega A, Piaget N, Vásquez JA (2009) Valor económico de los bosques de algas pardas en las costas de la III y IV Región de Chile. Gestión Ambiental 18:63–86

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Fondo de Investigación Pesquera FIP-Chile for supporting the project FIP 2005-32 to JAV. JMAV thanks CONICYT Chile for scholarship in the PhD Program in Biology and Applied Ecology, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte. Useful suggestion made by an anonymous reviewer significantly improves this contribution.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile

    Julio A. Vásquez, Fadia Tala & Nicole Piaget

  2. Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile

    Julio A. Vásquez

  3. Programa de Doctorado en Biología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile

    J. M. Alonso Vega

  4. Escuela de Ingeniería Comercial, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile

    Sergio Zuñiga

  5. Departamento de Biología Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

    Deni C. Rodríguez

Authors
  1. Julio A. Vásquez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sergio Zuñiga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fadia Tala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicole Piaget
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Deni C. Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. M. Alonso Vega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julio A. Vásquez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vásquez, J.A., Zuñiga, S., Tala, F. et al. Economic valuation of kelp forests in northern Chile: values of goods and services of the ecosystem. J Appl Phycol 26, 1081–1088 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0173-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0173-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation