Modelling the costs, benefits, and economic opportunities associated with vegetation conservation in the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí watersheds (SP and MG)

Author(s)

Ulises Rodrigo Magdalena

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Geociências
• Defense date: 2023-12-20

Examining board members

Raul Reis Amorim; Lindon Fonseca Matias; Antonio Cezar Leal; Letícia Roberta Amaro Trombeta

• Advisor: Raul Reis Amorim; Daniel Andrés Rodriguez

Abstract

The absence of effective management planning for protected areas, striving to balance economic development with conservation objectives, intensifies land-use conflicts, leading to deforestation in watersheds and endangering water resources. This study assesses the economic potential of preserving vegetation and its impact on water resources within the Piracicaba, Capivari, and Jundiaí River Committee (PCJ Basins). We created thematic maps encompassing physical, hydrological, and socio-economic aspects. Additionally, a land acquisition cost map was developed, accounting for various land sizes and types of use, with agricultural productivity as an opportunity cost factor. We simulated the influence of vegetation on water quality through different conservation and restoration scenarios. The reader is introduced to concepts such as protected areas, Systematic Conservation Planning, natural capital, and ecosystem services. The results indicate that priority areas for water conservation, with a 10% target for vegetation preservation and restoration, are both economically viable and feasible. This would result in approximately 16% savings in water treatment costs, which can support conservation initiatives for vegetation and water resources. Emphasizing the complexity of a holistic approach that balances local economic development with vegetation preservation contributes significantly to water resource conservation, a crucial element in the local economy (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/22907-1 - Modelling the costs, benefits, and economic opportunities associated with vegetation conservation in the Piracicaba, Capivari, and Jundiaí watersheds (SP and MG)
• Grantee: Ulises Rodrigo Magdalena
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate