Journals Information
Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 13(1), pp. 38 - 46
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130104
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Economic Value of the Carbon Storage Service of Beach Forests along Iligan Bay, Mindanao, Philippines
Wella Tiu-Tatil 1,*, Canesio D. Predo 2, Cristino L. Tiburan Jr. 2, Hildie Maria E. Nacorda 3
1 Department of Environmental Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Philippines
2 Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resource, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines
3 School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Coastal greenbelts contribute to climate change mitigation as an important sink of atmospheric carbon which influences global climate. These ecosystems also protect coastal communities from the adverse effects of climate change. However, the knowledge about coastal greenbelts, such as beach forests, is not common, which made this forest vulnerable to land use conversion. While literatures on the carbon (C) stock of different forest types are available, quantification of beach forest C stock and its economic value is relatively new, especially that the study on beach forests is limited in the Philippines. Thus, this study estimated the C storage, the social-cost value of carbon dioxide sequestered (SC-CO2), and the potential market value of the beach forests along Iligan Bay, Northern Mindanao. A non-destructive method was used to assess the C stock of the 10-ha forests in Naawan, Iligan, and Bacolod. Tree aboveground biomass was quantified following available allometric equation, and the C stock was estimated using the mean wood C content value (47.5%) from IPCC and the default value for the Philippines' secondary forest. Economic valuation of the C storage ecosystem service was estimated using the mean C prices available in the Philippines, and the social cost of CO2. Results revealed that the mean C sequestered and stored in the three beach forests is 48.98 tC ha-1, lower than the C storage of the other upland ecosystems but comparable to the agro-forest systems. Further, the mean estimated market value of C storage regulating service of the beach forest is US$ 1,168.32 ha-1 (Php 68,498.65 ha-1) while the social cost of beach forest's C storage service revealed a higher mean value at US$ 33,252.21ha-1 (Php 1,949,577.10 ha-1). This estimate underscores the social benefit of conserving the forest, but at the same time reflects the cost to the society should there be forest conversion to other land uses. These findings suggest that while beach forests are small in area, the social benefit they provide to society is valuable. Hence, this is an important consideration for coastal management and climate change mitigation initiatives of the Philippine government.
KEYWORDS
Carbon Credit, Carbon Sink, Coastal Greenbelt, Regulating Service, Social Cost of CO2, Tree Biomass
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Wella Tiu-Tatil , Canesio D. Predo , Cristino L. Tiburan Jr. , Hildie Maria E. Nacorda , "Economic Value of the Carbon Storage Service of Beach Forests along Iligan Bay, Mindanao, Philippines," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 38 - 46, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130104.
(b). APA Format:
Wella Tiu-Tatil , Canesio D. Predo , Cristino L. Tiburan Jr. , Hildie Maria E. Nacorda (2025). Economic Value of the Carbon Storage Service of Beach Forests along Iligan Bay, Mindanao, Philippines. Environment and Ecology Research, 13(1), 38 - 46. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130104.