The economic valuation of provisioning services in nilgiri biosphere reserve of Tamil Nadu

Forest cover plays a vital role in maintaining the ecology and economy of the state with particular reference to conservation of natural resources like soil and water. The present study is undertaken to estimate the total economic value of provisioning services provided by the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu using market pricing method and substitute cost method. Provisioning services obtained from the forest are timber, Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), fish, water provision, fuel wood, grazing and employment generation. Among the listed provisioning services, water provision has been accounted for the highest value of Rs.14,583 million. The total economic value of the provisioning services of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu is estimated as Rs. 5,44,150 million. It is clear that there exists an extreme wealth of nation in the forest ecosystem which could be considered in the process of decision making.