Syllabus Section: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

• The Uttarakhand government recently announced it will initiate valuation of its natural resources in the form of ‘Gross Environment Product’ (GEP), along the lines of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

About:

• Gross Environment Productis the measure of ecosystem services of any area.

Background:

• The idea of valuation of the components of environment is not new. It gotimpetus following rapid degradation of ecosystems, which led to adverse impacts on more than 60 per cent of services we get from the ecosystems.
• The term “ecosystem services” was coined in 1981 to attract academics towards this aspect.
• According to American ecological economist Robert Costanza,” ecosystem services are the benefits human populations derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystem functions.”

• The definition is still in the process of evolution.

What is the use of Gross Environment Product?

• Ecosystem services of a state benefiting the rest of the country can be valued, and these values can be incorporated into national accounting.
• The market does not perform money transfer from regions that benefit from ecosystem services to regions which produce them, the central government should perform this transfer.
• It is also a critical indicator for measuring the progress of Eco-civilization.
• Its implementation can help assess the impact of anthropological pressure on our ecosystem and natural resources- air, water, soil, forests.
• Himalayan States can be benefitted most to this concept.

 

Source: Down to Earth