A Monetarization Framework For Soil Functions And Its Application

Soil,as a kind of scarce and non-renewable resource which supports and maintains human life,is the basis of all activities of societys and a kind of natural capital rarely recognized or understood.This study aims to set up a framework for the soil resource optimal utilization through provideing monetization index system and economic analysis techniques;the point of the paper is:despite the value of the soil is rarely recognized or understood,it is huge;econometric analysis of the soil function provides an analytical tool to help land resource use and descion making in the view of soil value,which can achieve optimal utilization of soil on the basis of the human welfare.On the basis of classification of Ecosystem services function of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment(MA),the soil functions were divided into producting function,regulating function,supporting function and cultural function including 15 detailed features.On the basis of the point and method of soil function monetarization studied by Lehmann(2006)and Robinson(2009),combined with conventional marketing method,alternative marketing method and contingent valuation method,a new conceptual framework was developed to analysis and study the soil functions in Zhengzhou district.The monetized value of the soil functions can be calculated,:the provision of food,wood andfibre 9318.037yuan/ha,flood mitigation 1807.523 yuan/ha,recycling of wastes and detoxification 19827.15 yuan/ha,carbon storage 31574.88 yuan/ha.According the studied,the soil resource value is determined by the three factors of soil properties,soil types and the development of the soil by human.the land utility and layout can be identified in the study area,and not just on the basis of land productivity and the location to determine its utility and value.The main works of the thesis are summarized:first,combined with the soil natural capital concept,soil functions was classified;second,a framework of the economic anysis of soil functions was set up;three,the result of the monetarization was explored in land use.The approach provides quantization tools and methods to understand the value of soil resource.allows the value of soil to be benchmarked against commonly used indicator of economic performance such as GDP at the national level and net profits,which meets the goal of maximizing human welfare by measuring the soil value and optimizing land resources.