NSU Research Contributions
Title : Economic Valuation of Pablakhali’s Select Water Resources: A Comprehensive Approach
Authors : Raisa Bashar
Abstract : The remote area of Pablakhali is situated in the northeast corner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts under the Rangamati district (Baghaichari upazilla). It consists of many water bodies, three types of forests, over thousands of animal and plant species and several hundred human families (mostly fishermen and farmers) living in small colonies (called paras). Protected Areas (PAs), like Pablakhali, have long been monitored and managed by the country’s Forest Department (FD), but in vain, mainly due to their remoteness, lack of value in the eyes of the policy makers and poor focus on public involvement. Hence, this project aimed to evaluate a comprehensive valuation of this area’s two (out of nine) paras – Noboperachara and Talukdar para - with the aims to establish a detailed inventory, as well as an understanding of the dimension of water use by different stakeholders in the hilly areas. The valuation used questionnaires and focused group discussions to identify the selected water bodies’ and its resources’ value from the human residents’ perspectives in four categories: economic benefits, consumption value, cultural importance and dependence value of select flora and fauna. Statistical/graphical analyses and mapping was used to establish relationships and the amount of area value, respectively. The total value of these two paras of Pablakhali was found to be at least 32,894,220 BDT (391,597 USD) in just the month (February, 2018) the survey was conducted, with only the most popular resources included in the project scope. This amount shows how valuable the area is and the need for better data collection from this area. It also portrays the need for investment to better protect the ecosystem services and people’s livelihoods. Additionally, this project, being the first of its kind, will also be a forerunner to incorporate conservation, non-market valuation and divert government interest towards such remote, but resource-rich regions of the country.
| Journal : | Volume : | Year : 2018 | Issue : |
| Pages : | City : | Edition : | Editors : Dr. Hamidul Huq |
| Publisher : Scholars' Press | ISBN : | Book : | Chapter : |
| Proceeding Title : 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development | Institution : | Issuer : | Number : |
