Ecological Indicators (Sep 2024)
Assessment of cultural ecosystem services of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: Guarding the beauty of the Plateau, co-creating a better future
Abstract
Cultural ecosystem services (CES) constitute an integral segment of ecosystem services, encompassing the contributions of the natural environment to human cultural, spiritual, cognitive, and recreational activities. CES is pivotal in enhancing human well-being and quality of life, bolstering social cohesion, and fostering cultural diversity. Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), known as the “Roof of the World” and the cradle of Tibetan culture, offers various CES through its unique natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. These services are vital to local communities and hold global cultural and spiritual value. However, they currently receive insufficient attention in economic evaluations and policy-making processes. The study aims to assist in formulating policies to promote sustainable development on the QTP by estimating the CES. Data was collected from 346 tourists during a field study conducted from July to August 2023. The contingent valuation method (CVM) and the travel cost interval analysis (TCIA) were employed to evaluate the CES on the QTP. A two-hurdle model was employed analyzed the factors influencing respondents’ willingness to pay (WTP). It found that in 2023, the value of CES of the QTP was estimated at 31.396 billion yuan and 135.226 billion yuan using two methods respectively. Variables of satisfaction, frequency of visits, environmental awareness, distance, willingness to revisit, gender and income significantly influenced tourists’ WTP for ecological protection on the QTP. The CVM and the TCIA are both effective approaches for assessing the CES. The results obtained from the CVM reflect a more comprehensive value of ecosystem services and the respondents’ apprehension of the subject matter. The outcomes of the TCIA possess a certain degree of objectivity and offer tangible value for policy formulation. This research facilitates an enhanced comprehension of the significance of the QTP’s ecological environment, promoting policymakers’ rational and efficacious utilization of ecological resources. It contributes to strengthening the screening of the content and scope of regional protection, focusing on the differentiation of environmental policy formulation, improving the rationality of ecological compensation policy standards, intensifying protection and restoration efforts concerning the ecological and environmental resources within the region, thereby elevating the CES value of the QTP.
