The Identification of Ecosystem Goods and Services Provided by Karavasta Lagoon

The coastal system as the Karavasta lagoon provides a range of goods and services. The Karavasta Lagoon (Ramsar site since 1996), is one of the most various mosaic of coastal habitats that extends in the central part of the Albanian Adriatic coast. The aim of the study was the identifications of goods and services in Karavasta lagoon. To identify, list and characterize the goods and services we have adopted the classification of ecosystem services proposed by Millennium Ecosystem Assessment [14] that outlined four categories of ecosystem services Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, Supporting. According to the MEA, ecosystem services are seen as ‘the benefits ecosystems provide’’. To carry out our objectives we have used also a set of methodological tools for data collections including: (i) Previous studies and literature (ii) Questionnaire in villages, household around the lagoon and interview with tourist, visitor which use the lagoon. This methods help us to identify the Ecosystem Services and to collect information about the goods and services in the lagoon. The study found out that the goods and services of the lagoon are mainly utilized from the residents of the nearby villages such as Mize, Zharnec, Kryekuq, Bedat, Xeng and Divjaka. It was noted that provisioning services with direct use are: fishing (high level), medicinal plants, agriculture, mineral, wildlife (medium level) and provisioning services with indirect use are: endemic plants (high level), water (medium level). Regulating services with direct use are: recreation, education, cultural, historical and traditional services (high level) and regulating services with indirect use are: flood and flow control (high level), hydrological regime, biological regulation (low level). Supporting services with direct use are: supporting a range of biological diversity (high level), water transport (low level) and supporting service with indirect use is: supporting a productive fishing environment (medium level).