EVALUATION OF PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WITH REGARD TO NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: WATER AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

There has been increasing recognition of the ecological services supplied by forests and wetlands, in recent years. While the importance of the positive effects of these services on economic development is emphasized in the literature, it is noteworthy that studies to determine their economic value are not yet sufficient. Many areas providing ecological services remain threatened mainly by anthropogenic factors as a result of poor management and unsustainable use, resulting in environmental degradation. These factors which are increasing cumulatively cause environmental deterioration, land use changes, habitat narrowing and, most importantly, decrease in quality of life in the medium and long-terms. The regulatory, provisioning, supportive and cultural services provided by ecosystems require these resources to be used within the scope of the sustainability principle. In this research, the relations between water resources, forestry and ecosystem services in some countries were investigated. Administrative and socio-economic factors that affect resource utilization were examined. Furthermore, some best practices and approaches considering the value, protection and use-balance of the water sources were exemplified through literature review