The economic value of peri-urban wetland ecosystem services in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Abstract

Boeng Cheung Aek is a large peri-urban wetland in south Phnom Penh, Cambodia that provides multiple ecosystem services, but increasing urban development has initiated an ambitious program of in-filling. In an effort to demonstrate the importance of the wetland to city planners, we have undertaken this research to document and value the ecosystem services provided by Boeng Cheung Aek. Using a mixed method approach of geospatial technology, household surveys, market value, and avoided cost assessments, we determined the economic value for wastewater treatment, food, and water provisioning in the wetlands is $30.12 millionUSD per year, but with a range of $15.71-$48.96 million USD per year.