Economic Valuation of Badhani Tal Wetland

Ecosystem services are beneficial outcomes for the natural environment or people that result from ecosystem functions. Wetlands are extremely important to mankind as they have several uses including drinking water supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation etc. and also serve as sources of organic productivity. Water may be stagnant in the form of lakes, ponds, pools etc. Lakes are naturally formed due to depressions on the earth surface that become filled with water and have diverse geological origin. High altitudes lakes are not exposed so much to pollution sites and are extremely in nature. The ever increasing populations and rapid industrial growth in the present as well as tourist influx are major contributors in influencing the physico-chemical properties of most wetlands. Keeping in the view the importance of Badhani Tal wetland, the economic valuation encompasses all values i.e. direct, indirect and existence values. The attempt has been made to capture various actual and current use values and existence values.