Economic Valuation of Natural Nipa (Nypa Fruiticans Wurmb) Plantations in Bugallon, Pangasinan, 2025

Date

6-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Arvin B. Vista

Committee Member

Geny F. Lapiña, Maria Angeles O. Catelo

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Abstract

The study aimed to determine the economic value of the provisioning services and selected regulating services of the natural nipa plantations in Bugallon, Pangasinan. The specific objectives of the study were to: 1) describe the biophysical characteristics of natural nipa plantations in Bugallon, Pangasinan; 2) describe who uses nipa and the ways they utilize the resource; 3) estimate the aggregate supply of these nipa products; 4) estimate the direct income generated from nipa products; 5) estimate the economic value of the selected regulating services of nipa plantations specifically carbon sequestration and riverbank protection; and 6) provide recommendations for policymakers to enhance sustainable management and conservation practices for nipa plantations. Complete enumeration was employed in the selection of respondents with 56 respondents in total from the eight riverine barangays of the municipality. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the current extent, distribution of the nipa plantations, the farming experience, and the different uses of farmers for the nipa.

To determine the economic value of the provisioning services, carbon sequestration, and riverbank protection services of the natural nipa plantations, market price, benefit transfer, and replacement cost methods were used, respectively. Adding all the estimated real economic value of the provisioning and selected regulating service of nipa, the economic value of the natural nipa plantations in Bugallon, Pangasinan, for 2024 is estimated to be PhP 3,083,116. Determining the economic value of the natural nipa plantations in Bugallon highlights the economic importance of this valuable resource, not just in the municipality, but also for the communities that rely on it as their main source of income. It was also found that the average farming experience of nipa farmers is 30 years. In recent years, about 1.84 ha of natural nipa plantations were converted into fishponds. This could mean that in the foreseeable future, more nipa farmers may follow, thereby further gradually decreasing the area of nipa plantations in the municipality.

It is recommended that the total area of nipa plantations be monitored annually to see the significant changes in the land uses, land conversion, and the increase of land accretion along the riverbanks. The economic value of the natural nipa plantations in the municipality can be further improved by employing practices such as sustainable farming, since one of the observed practices is overharvesting of leaves, leading to low to no collection of nipa sap and reducing the potential income from the former. Furthermore, proper labeling of consumable products is recommended for food safety. Better record- keeping practices is also recommended to keep track of the overall performance of their livelihood. It is also recommended that the nipa farmers should be given support to retain or better improve and increase the area of natural nipa plantations. This study also recommends conducting further studies focusing on the farming practices of nipa farmers, as this could present a solution to decrease the overharvesting of nipa materials by the nipa farmers. Lastly, conducting economic valuation using primary data, and determining other value-adding practices may increase the economic value of the natural nipa plantations in the municipality.

Language

English

LC Subject

Nypa palm—Philippines, Tree farms—Environmental aspects

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 A14 C38

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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