Quantitative assessment of land use/land cover changes on the value of ecosystem services in the coastal landscape of Anzali International Wetland

Abstract

This study, using remote sensing techniques and GIS, studied the land use land cover (LULC) changes of Anzali International Wetland from 1975 to 2013, and the effects of these changes on the ES (ecosystem service) values of the wetland. The benefit transfer method was used to estimate the economic value of the ecosystem goods and services. The basis for the valuations was the values provided for the ES of the world biomes. According to the results, in the period of study (1975 to 2013), the highest percentage of incremental change was attributed to urban and manmade centers (73.85 %), while the lowest was related to the wetland coverage area (0.32 %). Value changes between 1975 and 1975 for agricultural lands were positive and equal to US$ 12.85 million and for the rangelands were negative and equal to US$ - 26.84 million. These changes were positive for the coastal wetlands, equivalent to US$ 258.95 million a year. Despite the negative value changes of the rangelands, the total ES value changes in the entire wetland during the years 1975 to 2013 were evaluated to be positive (equal to US$ 244.96 million). Changes in the value of the services of pollination, biological control, genetic resources, and food production in 2013 were negative, compared to 1975. This indicates the loss of these values, which is due to the loss of rangelands in the study area. The findings of this study can inform policymakers, managers, and environmental planners about the continuation of the changing process and may lead to the formulation of policies for the sustainable exploitation of land resources, as well as future effective land use planning for achieving the goals of sustainable development in the study area. The findings can serve as a tool for raising awareness about the contribution of nature to the benefits, social welfare, and livelihood of the stakeholders.

Keywords: Anzali wetland; Change detection; Economic valuation; Ecosystem services; Land use/land cover changes.