Valuation of a Green Belt in the Cerrado Biome

Abstract

The complex relationship between economy and the environment results in the aggravation of environmental problems while categorizing the urgency of thinking about connections between economy and nature. Nowadays it is a challenge to master techniques of valuation of natural resources to curb their predatory exploitation, enabling sustainable paths for development. In this context, the objective research is to carry out the valuation of an area called the green belt of a fuel storage terminal located in Cerrado biome. For this valuation, was used the replacement cost method associated to the values of the environmental regulation services. The main results were that the total cost of replacement of the area and respective value of annual and total environmental services, in which it can be check that the environmental services exceeded the investment made. It was also possible to verify the local forest densification and the list of flora and fauna species that include individuals protected by current legislation. It was concluded, therefore, on the applicability of the proposed method as well as on the study importance as an initiative for the Cerrado's environmental resources valuation.