Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study

This paper presents an economic analysis of the planting of trees on marginal lands in Ukraine for timber production, erosion prevention, and climate mitigation. A methodology combining econometric analysis, simulation modelling, and linear programming to analyse the costs and benefits of such affor...

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Main Authors: Maria Nijnik, Arie Oskam, Anatoliy Nijnik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Forestry Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/295414
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author Maria Nijnik
Arie Oskam
Anatoliy Nijnik
author_facet Maria Nijnik
Arie Oskam
Anatoliy Nijnik
author_sort Maria Nijnik
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents an economic analysis of the planting of trees on marginal lands in Ukraine for timber production, erosion prevention, and climate mitigation. A methodology combining econometric analysis, simulation modelling, and linear programming to analyse the costs and benefits of such afforestation has been adopted. The research reveals that, at discount rates lower than 2%, establishment of new forests is economically justified in the majority of forestry zones. Incorporating the effects of afforestation on mitigating climate change increases social benefits. However, the results indicate that whilst soil protection benefits to agriculture from afforestation in the Steppe are expected to be high, carbon sequestration and timber production activities in the Steppe are cost inefficient due to low rates of tree growth and relatively high opportunity costs of land. The opportunity costs of land are also high in the Polissja where afforestation is cost inefficient at 2% and higher discount rates.
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publishDate 2012-01-01
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series International Journal of Forestry Research
spelling doaj-art-d4326d0fe5ad4f77a0db7841eaeb71042025-08-20T03:23:46ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762012-01-01201210.1155/2012/295414295414Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case StudyMaria Nijnik0Arie Oskam1Anatoliy Nijnik2Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland, UKAgricultural Economics and Rural Policy, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The NetherlandsEnvironmental Network Ltd., The Hillocks, Tarland, Aboyne AB34 4TJ, Scotland, UKThis paper presents an economic analysis of the planting of trees on marginal lands in Ukraine for timber production, erosion prevention, and climate mitigation. A methodology combining econometric analysis, simulation modelling, and linear programming to analyse the costs and benefits of such afforestation has been adopted. The research reveals that, at discount rates lower than 2%, establishment of new forests is economically justified in the majority of forestry zones. Incorporating the effects of afforestation on mitigating climate change increases social benefits. However, the results indicate that whilst soil protection benefits to agriculture from afforestation in the Steppe are expected to be high, carbon sequestration and timber production activities in the Steppe are cost inefficient due to low rates of tree growth and relatively high opportunity costs of land. The opportunity costs of land are also high in the Polissja where afforestation is cost inefficient at 2% and higher discount rates.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/295414
spellingShingle Maria Nijnik
Arie Oskam
Anatoliy Nijnik
Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study
International Journal of Forestry Research
title Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study
title_full Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study
title_fullStr Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study
title_full_unstemmed Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study
title_short Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study
title_sort afforestation for the provision of multiple ecosystem services a ukrainian case study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/295414
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