ECONOMIC VALUATION OF WATER BENEFITS IN BANTIMURUNG BULUSARAUNG NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH SULAWESI

The potential of water resources in Bantimurung Bulusaraung NP (Babul NP) can be utilized as a source of ir rigation for rice fields farming , and fulfillment of clean water for people in Maros, and surrounding areas. The importance of resources are sometimes neglected, and appreciation of it is ver y low due to lack of information regarding how economic benefits generated by the resources for local communities and local government interests. The objective of this research is to observe the economic value of environmental water services in Babul NP. Economic valuation for household was done by procurement cost method; for drinking Regional Water Company by using simple financial analysis; for ir rigation water by using a different method in estimated calculated from the difference between productivity of irrigated-land with non-irrigated land; for micro-hydro by applying replacement market price method; for fisheries and car washing business by using contingen valuation method approach; for tourism pur pose calculation by using travel cost method. The results showed that the park has economic benefits value, amounting to 1,7 trillion rupiah per year for surrounding community, and for local government approximately 130 billion rupiah. The value of economic benefits resulting from Babul NP is expected to be considered by all parties to participate in preserving Babul NP