Title: National accounts and value of biodiversity in India

Authors: M. Balasubramanian

Addresses: Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Abstract: Biodiversity has provided number of benefits to human beings. But, the national income accounting calculation has not been successful in calculating it real economic value. Developing countries like India having large number of population are depending on nature for their livelihood support. However, population pressure and climate change are giving additional pressure to biodiversity. The local policy makers have concerns about conservation of biodiversity and improving livelihood of local people in the context of sustainable development. The system of environmental economic accounting has brought a comprehensive methodology for natural resource and national accounts. In India, environmental accounting in general and biodiversity in particular are at very early stage. This paper has discussed biodiversity and their value integration into economy based on previous studies. The value of biodiversity must be integrated with national accounting calculation for the sustainability perspective.

Keywords: biodiversity; ecosystems; national accounts; sustainable development; sustainability; India; economic value; population pressure; climate change; environmental accounting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2015.067884

International Journal of Green Economics, 2015 Vol.9 No.1, pp.35 - 57

Published online: 08 Mar 2015 *

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