Ecosystem services valuation of harvesting edible wild plants/mushrooms : A case study in Tadami Town, Fukushima Prefecture

Abstract

This study elucidated the spatio-temporal characteristics of harvesting edible wild plants/mushrooms in snowy communities in Tadami town. western Fukushima prefecture in northeastern J apan. Questionnaire surveys for each household and family member and two-year daily records of harvesting by a total of 17 dwellers were conducted to elucidate their harv 巴stingactivities in detai l. Mosaic vegetation in the snowy mountains such as snow avalanche scrub and meadow. riparian fores t. beech. oak and pine forests were seasonally used at different frequencies after snowmelt in spring (late April) until snowfall in lat 巴 autumn(early November) to harvest nearly 40 different species by changing sites. The amount of species harvested was estimated by multiplying the average harvesting frequency and harvested weight per species each month. An economic valuation was further conducted by multiplying the retail price of each species. both in the local market and via Internet shopping. We found that the economic value of a few to several tens of million yen was generated annually in the local marke t. which would be increased two or three times via Internet shopping. Since most harvesters consider 巴 the importance for both food and fun. this indicates that the value with cultural services would be highr. 巴 巴 巴 Although harvstingactivitishav beenconsistently declining over the past half century. they still have large potential in snowy mountains 鉦飴王仕