Wetlands are a precious resource for both people and the environment, but planning and management processes often undervalue or ignore them. Wetlands have usually been evaluated in terms of money. However, if wetlands and their functions are to be conserved, it is necessary for policymakers to develop a deeper understanding of the complex value of wetlands.

Research from the World Conservation Union (IUCN), in the Cambodian area of the Mekong Delta, takes an alternative approach to valuing wetland resources. It focuses on the importance of wetlands in terms of incomes, food security and health. It also considers the role of wetlands in helping communities to cope with external shocks and stresses, such as natural disasters. The researchers used participatory methods in Veun Sean village to understand the background to resource-use decisions.

Villagers live with the interrelated pressures of poor health, drought and rice shortages. Against this background, wetland resources are critical to livelihoods in terms of nutrition, income and coping with shock and stress. In Veun Sean, a variety of wetland values were identified and ranked according to their importance. Many of these values represented the consumption of wetland resources, such as fishing, collecting traditional medicines and catching wildlife for food. Other values related specifically to water, including uses such as drinking, washing, irrigation and transportation.

Fish were the most valuable wetland resource, according to both rich and poor people in the village. A quantitative assessment verified the importance of fish resources, and showed that they are more valuable to poorer households, because of their importance as a source of income as well as food. The quantitative value of other wetland uses was estimated based on the relative ratings of different resources. In Veun Sean, the economic value of wetlands was estimated at about US $3,200 per household per year.

The research shows:

• Poorer households are more dependent on wetland resources for providing food security and income.
• For very poor people, aquatic resources in paddy fields and small streams, (such as fish, frogs, snails and snakes), are a key source of nutrition.
• Households with a capacity to grow rice are seen as relatively wealthy. They depend less on wetlands resources for nutrition or income, and are better at coping with shocks and stresses.
• Deep pools, recognised as important conservation areas, are the traditional fishing grounds of villagers.
• Although villagers work with many local institutions and organisations, they rarely have any contact with the government. Many of the working committees established by previous non-governmental organisation programmes are no longer active.

There is a definite need for policymakers to consider wetlands as more than just an economic resource. It is equally important to consider access to fisheries. The poorest households already have limited access to land, labour, transport, health care and alternative sources of income. This is why access to fisheries resources is so important to them. The research recommends:

• The continued protection and maintenance of fish stocks is vital to the livelihoods of all households.
• Large-scale strategies to conserve and protect fish resources in the whole of the Mekong Delta must consider local dependencies on these resources.
• Participatory research methods for economic assessment should be a key tool in planning future wetland policies, as these identify the needs of local people using the resource.

Source(s):
‘Stoeng Treng RAMSAR site, Cambodia: Rapid, participatory assessment for wetland valuation,’ Case Studies in Wetland Valuation #11, by Lucy Emerton, February 2005 Full document.
This document was produced under the project "Integrating Wetland Economic Values into River Basin Management." Further details of the case study will be available in a technical report to be published in 2005. 

Funded by: Department for International Development (DFID), UK and World Conservation Union (IUCN)

id21 Research Highlight: 11 November 2005

Further Information:
Lucy Emerton
Regional Environmental Economics Programme
IUCN - The World Conservation Union
53 Horton Place
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka.

Tel: +94 (0) 11 2694 094
Fax: +94 (0) 1 682 470
Contact the contributor: LAE@iucnsl.org

World Conservation Union (IUCN)

Madhu Bhattarai
P.O.Box 4340
16 Fa Ngum Road
Vientiane
Lao PDR.

Tel: +856 (0)21 216 401 or +856(0) 21 240 904
Fax: + 856 (0)21 216 127
Contact the contributor: madhu.mwbp@iucnlao.org

Other related links:
'The role of local knowledge in wetland management in Ethiopia'

'Fish in development: integrating fisheries into policy and planning'

'Governance of protected areas'

'Management of the bushmeat trade in Ghana'

Wetlands and Water Resources Programme

Centre for Wetlands, Environment and Livelihoods, UK