Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services of Coastal Area of Kinondoni District, Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigates the often overlooked economic values of ecosystem services in the coastal area of Kinondoni District, Tanzania, in the context of spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover (LULC). The primary objectives were to assess how ecosystem services and functions have been affected by LULC changes over a 30-year period, from 1993 to 2023. The study employs a benefit transfer method, integrating local and global estimations of ecosystem service value (ESV) with field survey, remote sensing and GIS techniques. The findings reveal that the annual changes in ESV during the study period are estimated at US$ 0.024 million and US$ 0.034 million using local and global coefficients, respectively. Over the three decades, there has been a significant annual loss of US$ 0.72 million locally and US$ 2.11 million globally, primarily due to the degradation of mangrove forests and bushland. The decline in ecosystem functions is largely driven by reductions in regulating services, which account for 54.1% of the total decrease in local valuations and 31.6% in global valuations. Supporting services also experienced substantial declines, with reductions of 39.7% in local valuations and 55.8% in global valuations. The study underscores the urgent need to review and enhance management and conservation strategies to ensure the sustainability of the coastal ecosystems in Kinondoni District, Tanzania.