Economic valuation of forest soils

Quantifying the cost associated with forest activities is an effective way of managing and maintaining forests. This can be achieved by the economic valuation of our forest resources in terms of cost-benefit analysis (CBA). However, such studies on economic valuation of forest soils in India are sparse. The present work on environmental accounting of forest soils of Halol Range, Gujarat highlights the cost and benefit related to the resources. The work reflects the real contribution of different forest restoration activities carried out in this area. It has brought out the precise amount of economic loss or economic benefit due to changes in soil nutrient status. Multitemporal analysis of the soils with respect to changes in the soil fertility status (i.e. 1997-2009) and economic valuation for the resulting changes based on nutrient replacement cost have been done. Though the 1997 analysis showed overall economic loss, the restoration activities by the Forest Department (FD) had not only overcome this loss, but brought in economic benefits of about Rs 388.13/ha in 2009. Though many a times the indirect benefits of the FD activities are not visualized, such indirect CBA of forest resources highlights the benefits of these activities.