Valoração do serviço ecossistêmico na Serra da Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Abstract

The natural ecosystems and the biodiversity associated with them are threatened by human action all over the world, in this scenario protected natural areas stand as an important instrument for the conservation of natural ecosystems and ecosystem services. Natural ecosystems and, consequently, protected natural areas, generate important contributions to human well-being and play a strategic role in the development of the country, which are rarely considered in policies and decisionmaking. The monetary valuation of goods and services provided by natural ecosystems is a means of helping to formulate more powerful arguments for the conservation of biodiversity, contributes as a subsidy in the formulation of environmental policies and strategies and in encouraging the creation and maintenance of protected natural areas. The objective of this study was to estimate the economic value of the use of water that supports tourist activities in Serra da Bodoquena, using the Contingent Valuation Method to estimate the willingness to pay of visitors for the conservation of river quality. The estimated value of the benefits provided by the water resources of BRL 5.5 million/year. In a scenario of loss of water quality, 85.3% of visitors declared that they did not return to Bonito for tours. The potential loss of revenue extrapolated to the number of visitors in 2019 was estimated at BRL 659,000. Considering a percentage of 50% and 20% of visitors who would not return to Bonito, the loss was estimated at R$ 157 million and R$ 78 million, respectively, causing a negative economic impact to the tourism chain. Loss of river quality would also lead to loss of municipal tax collection. The contribution of the Serra da Bodoquena conservation units was also estimated, through the economic impact of visitation and tax revenue transfers (ICMS Ecológico). The economic impact of visiting protected areas in 2019 was estimated at BRL 31.7 million (conservative scenario) and BRL 36.6 million (optimistic scenario). In 2020, the impact was BRL 20.8 million (conservative scenario) and BRL 24 million (optimistic scenario). The collection of ICMS Ecológico by the municipality of Bonito was R$ 2.8 million, Bodoquena R$ 5.0 million and Jardim R$ 2.0 million. In 2021, the amount transferred to the municipality of Bonito was BRL 7.0 million, Bodoquena BRL 6.0 million and Jardim BRL 1.7 million. Demonstrating the economic impact of protected natural areas.