Economic Valuation of Rural Wetlands in Bangladesh: A Case Study of the Padma Beel of Pabna

Wetland is a valuable ecosystem for sustainable environment. These have traditionally been used for multiple purposes, and have significant roles in the livelihood of the local community. In recent years, these multiple use systems are getting converted to single use system due to economic and social pressure from dominant stakeholders. In this context, we selected a particular wetland in the district of Pabna, namely the Padma Beel, to estimate direct economic benefits from its multiple uses, e.g. wetland cultivation, irrigation, fisheries, jute retting, duck keeping and fodder collection. The study shows that wetlands are resourceful ecosystems that provide many benefits and services but some of these benefits and services can be difficult to recognize, quantify and value. On the other hand, direct benefits and services such as fish capture can be quantified and valued using a market price approach. Wetlands also contribute to household food security of the surrounding neighborhood locations in a number of ways.