Estimating direct use value of Kilombero Ramsar site based on market price method

Kilombero Valley Flood Plain Ramsar Site (KVFPRS) with an area of 796 735 ha supports about 400 000 inhabitants. The valley is subjected to extensive expansion in direct resource based extractions threatening its ecological integrity due to limited use of valuation of ecosystem services in decision making on its sustainable management.. This study estimated the direct use value using a market price method. Sources of information were household questionnaire in which a sample of 490 households was used. Other sources of information were from literature searches, focus group discussions and visits to local markets. For each studied activity, the percentage of participating households was identified, data on what they produce, and cost of production, and net benefit, were calculated at household level and the values were aggregated across the whole population. The total aggregate value of the wetlands was TZS 152 billion. The largest contribution came from rice production (56.6%), sugarcane production (20.8%), forest products (13.2%), fishing (2.9%), livestock (2.6%), bush meat (0.5%), brick making (1%) and thatch grass (2.1%). This information can be used in designing management options associated with costs and benefits involved in each option for wise use of KVFPRS.Key words: Valuation of ecosystem services, wetland resources, market price, utilization status, society welfare