Economic Value of Cultural Ecosystem Services: An Assessment from Protected Forest of Nepal

Forests provide numbers of cultural ecosystem services for human wellbeing. However, the importance of cultural ecosystem services arising from forests is poorly recognized in developing countries like Nepal. The present study has estimated economic value of cultural ecosystem services provided by Panchase Protected Forest of Nepal. Travel cost method was adopted interviewing 388 people to estimate the value of cultural and recreational services. The analysis revealed that total annual economic value of cultural ecosystem services of the Panchase Protected Forest is NPR 37.84 million (USD 378, 395). It is estimated that 25, 340 pilgrims and 3, 600 tourists visit every year in the Panchase Protected Forest. Promotion of tourism as an economic opportunity for local people and the society are crucial for better protection of protected forests. Provision of entry fee will help in regulating tourism in protected forests. Inclusion of aesthetic and cognitive benefits will worth in future cultural ecosystem valuation researches.