RESUMEN
Aims: The aims of the current paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the water ecosystem in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in India and to highlight economic potentiality of the two nerve tributaries; “Dal Lake” and “River Jhelum” to the farmers and other communities of the Kashmiri society. Study Design: The temperate region of Kashmir valley is bestowed with many water bodies in the form of springs, lakes and rivers. Kashmir region is world famous for its lakes viz; “Dal Lake”, “Wulur Lake”, “Mansbal Lake”, “Anchar Lake”, “Nigeen Lake”; springs viz; Kokarnag, Verinag, Achabal and “River Jhelum” etc. “Dal Lake” and “River Jhelum” are known to be the nerve tributaries of the valley and various communities are dependent on these water bodies for their livelihood. Methodology: Contingent valuation method and willingness to pay techniques were used to analyse the data and interpret the results. Results: The results revealed that economic value associated with the selected water bodies was worth millions of US$. Most of the population in the valley depends on these water bodies for their livelihood. In addition, the results reveal that over the years, pollution and encroachment of these water bodies has increased manifold reducing the width, depth and recreational value of these water bodies. Though every stakeholder is willing to pay for the restoration of these water bodies, however, little or no attention is being paid by the local government towards their, management, sustenance and conservation. Conclusion: The study concludes that over the years, due to growth of population in the valley along with the ever increasing influx of floating population in terms of tourist arrivals, the selected water bodies (Dal Lake & River Jhelum) came under heavy stress, culminating into the deterioration of their aesthetic and recreational value besides drastic reduction in their revenue generation for their poor water quality and mismanagement. The restoration of these water bodies, which in addition of providing employment to the stakeholders in huge numbers also generate revenue worth millions of US$, demands devising a pragmatic policy by the government towards their conservation and restoration of their lost glory through efficient management and monitoring system.
RESUMEN
The Upper Paraná River floodplain is the last lotic stretch of an ecosystem seriously threatened given that circa 50 percent of the original ecosystem has been converted into reservoirs. To assess the recreational value of the Upper Paraná River floodplain, 174 tourists were interviewed using the Willingness to Pay - WTP and Travel Cost - TC methods. The annual aggregated WTP attributed by tourists was US$ 122.50 million and the variables which determine the decision in willingness to pay for the Floodplain are: 'consider oneself as a Floodplain natural resources consumer' and 'marital state'. If the single person considers her/himself as a consumer of floodplain natural resources, the WTP increases by a multiplicative factor of 38.8. The value aggregated by the TC method was US$ 234 millions and decreased by zone as the distance increases. Higher income and traveling farther increases the travel cost, which is inversely related to annual trip frequency. The total recreational value (356.5 millions per year) is high and representative since it refers to an environment fragmented by dams and with many anthropogenic effects. Therefore, the progressive changes on the landscape are a threat to local tourism, since half of the visitors are attracted solely by the scenic beauty, thereby overtaking those factors considered more important by public decision makers and managers, such as recreational fishery or boating.
A planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná é o último trecho de um ecossistema seriamente ameaçado, visto que 50 por cento deste ambiente foi convertido em reservatórios. Para estimar o valor agregado pela recreação à planície, foram usados o Método de Valoração Contingente (Disposição à paga - DAP) e o Método do Custo de Viagem - CV pela entrevista de 174 turistas. A disposição a pagar anual agregada pelos turistas foi US$ 122,50 milhões, 'considerar-se um usuário dos recursos da planície' e 'estado civil' são as variáveis que determinam a decisão em pagar pela planície. Se o turista solteiro se considera um consumidor dos recursos da planície, a DAP aumenta por um fator multiplicativo de 38,8. O valor agregado pelo CV foi US$ 234 milhões e diminui por zona com o aumento da distância. Maior renda e viagens mais longas também aumentam o custo de viagem que, no entanto, é inversamente relacionado à freqüência anual de viagens. O valor recreativo total (356.5 milhões por ano) é alto e representativo por se tratar de um ambiente fragmentado por barragens e com muitos efeitos antropogênicos. Assim, as progressivas alterações na paisagem são uma ameaça ao turismo local, pois a metade dos visitantes entrevistados declarou ser atraída somente pela beleza cênica, sobrepujando outros bens e serviços naturais considerados importantes por gestores e administradores públicos, como a pesca recreativa e o passeio de barco.