At present, many ecosystem services do not enter the market and, therefore, cannot be competitive but the assessment of their importance becomes a significant value for the indicator of the economic level. From an economic point of view, the destruction of ecosystems and their functions should be seen as a loss of basic resource assets. The purpose of the study is to provide a variety of examples of practical use of ecosystem services for decision-making in environmental management. We have revealed a wide range of economic, environmental, and social assessments for territory’s development. It includes the use of various payments and quotas, elaboration of maps and development scenarios taking into account the transformation of services; arranging consulting firms to collect information; the use of compensation mechanisms for assessing ecosystem services with requirements to the construction of production facilities; ensuring sustainable environmental management in special protection territories, etc. The research novelty lies in identifying the reasons for lack of such tools in Russia, considering the regional aspect in practical terms, where the focus of the North is of particular interest, with regional specific features of natural peculiarities, industrial development and local traditions of the population. The results of the study include the calculation of adjusted net savings and eco-economic index, which take into account the value of protected areas among the components. The value of this parameter was determined through economic assessment of regulatory and cultural services. The analysis of territory’s development over the past 15 years was conducted, recognizing it as unsustainable with insignificant factors to improve this condition. We also calculated the region’s assimilation potential, confirming the huge reserve of the forests’ ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The assessment can be an information basis for decision-making at the national and regional level. The main provisions of the article are recommended for use by the authorities in order to effectively promote eco-tourism and recreation. Further research suggests a more detailed study of ecosystem services in the context of particularly vulnerable territories for an assumed possibility to draw up a “guide” regarding the use of ecosystem services for professionals making management decisions in environmental management
Keywords
komi republic, ecosystem services, territory’s assimilation potential, special protection territories, economic assessment of recreational services