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A Spatial Analysis of Northern Guatemala

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A Spatial Analysis of Northern Guatemala Quantifying Environmental Services: A Spatial Analysis of Northern Guatemala Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Shelby Stults Graduate Program in Environmental Science The Ohio State University 2018 Thesis Committee Dr. Brent Sohngen Dr. Daniela Mitvea Dr. Sathya Gopalakrishnan Dr. Jeremy Brooks 1 Copyrighted by Shelby Stults 2018 2 Abstract The concept of ecosystem services has become an increasingly useful framework through which we can evaluate the consequences of policy choices. Economists believe that it is useful to quantify the physical flows and the value of services gained and lost to help policy-makers more effectively analyze the benefits and costs of preserving important natural assets. This can lead to more efficient allocation of scarce public resources. In the tropics where significant deforestation is occurring as land is converted to agricultural uses, understanding the value of ecosystem services may provide important price signals to encourage protection of intact, forested ecosystems. Recognition of these values may provide a critical tool for local groups that rely on intact ecosystems for the preservation of forests that contain the resources they value. Unfortunately, in many places there is little quantifiable data or information on ecosystem services and their value. This project aims to address this issue in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) of Northern Guatemala, which is the largest intact tropical rainforest in Central America. The government of Guatemala has partnered with a number of international institutions to protect the MBR from agricultural encroachment through a range of protection measures including the development of community based forest concessions and strict protection. Although there is evidence that the concessions have successfully protected forests from deforestation (Blackman, 2015; Fortmann, Sohngen, & Southgate, 2017), pressure to convert forests to agriculture is growing. While agricultural outputs are more easily measured via prices, most of the ecosystem services that are lost when deforestation ii occurs have not been quantified. Through this research, important ecosystem services will be valued and used to assess the economic impacts of forest loss. In particular, provisioning services (timber harvesting, non-timber forest product harvesting of Xate and Chicle, and agricultural production), regulating services (carbon sequestration and climate regulation), and cultural services (ecotourism) will be used to assess the net impacts of deforestation. By valuing ecosystem services present in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in a net- revenue analysis, a broader measure of land value can be estimated and compared to the value of agricultural land-use. I hypothesize that valuing and including multiple dimensions of ecosystem services will raise the value of intact forested ecosystems above the economic threshold of agriculture, one of the largest threats to the forested region. I also hypothesize that ecosystem values vary across several scales, including human boundary conditions (e.g., tenure rights) and ecological boundaries. I will spatially document ecosystem services at detailed level that allows me to illustrate the pattern of ecosystem value in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The resulting data can help policy makers develop new measures to protect remaining forests. In the discussion and conclusion of this thesis I offer insights into policies and measures that could be considered. iii Acknowledgments I am grateful for the help and guidance I have received from numerous individuals during the course of this project. Each of my committee members have provided extensive assistance with both this project and professional guidance throughout the duration of my Master’s program. I have appreciated the time and commitment each of my committee members has contributed to my personal and professional growth. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Bayron Milian for his expertise and kindness during my fieldwork in Guatemala and with acquiring the documents necessary to complete this analysis. Corinne Bocci, has also provided countless support and advice during this project as a friend and collaborator. I am also appreciative of the assistance of Alexis Scharrer for her support while in Guatemala. I would also like to thank Dr. Brent Sohngen for his guidance and support during this project and the numerous others we have collaborated on together. I am very grateful for the opportunities he has extended to me through research and professional support. iv Vita Shelby Stults 44 East Arcadia Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43202 The Ohio State University Master of Science Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Columbus State Community College Certification Program, Geographic Information Sciences Coursework and Internship Components The Ohio State University Bachelor of Arts, Globalization Studies Fields of Study Major Field: Environmental Science v Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. iv Vita ...................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1:Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 The Maya Biosphere Reserve: ......................................................................................... 5 Research Questions: ...................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2: The Value of Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Maya Biosphere Reserve ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Methodology: ................................................................................................................ 18 Results: .......................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 3: Value of Community Forest Concession Activities ........................................ 31 Methodology: ................................................................................................................ 34 Timber ........................................................................................................................... 35 Results: .......................................................................................................................... 37 Timber: .......................................................................................................................... 37 Non-timber Forest Products: ......................................................................................... 42 Tourism: ........................................................................................................................ 45 Discussion: .................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 4: Non-timber forest product harvesting and commercialization in the Maya Biosphere Reserve ............................................................................................................. 55 Xate Harvesting and the Community Forest Concessions ............................................ 58 The Demand Side of Xate ............................................................................................. 67 Estimating Potential For Increased Revenue ................................................................. 70 vi Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 5: New policies in the Maya Biosphere Reserve: How to build on existing success for protection in the future? .................................................................................. 78 Potential for Payments for Ecosystem Services ............................................................ 81 PES in the Maya Biosphere Reserve ............................................................................. 86 Land Rent Returns ......................................................................................................... 88 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 91 Conclusion: ........................................................................................................................ 93 Citations ............................................................................................................................. 96 vii List of Tables Table 2.1: Value of CO2e Rent at the Social Cost of Carbon in the Concessions………..21 Table 2.2 Value of CO2e Loss at the Social Cost of Carbon in the Concessions ………26 Table 3.1: Transportation and Harvesting.………………………………………………36 Table 3.2: Sawmill
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