Preliminary Assumptions for Identification of the Common Hamster ( Cricetus cricetus ) as a Service Provider in the Agricultural Ecosystem

Magdalena Joanna Hędrzak, Elżbieta Badach and Sławomir Adam Kornaś
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Magdalena Joanna Hędrzak: Laboratory GreenPro, Maszyce 13, 32-300 Smardzowice, Foundation “Inny Świat”, Dobrynin 266, 39-322 Dobrynin, Poland
Elżbieta Badach: Department of Statistics and Social Policy, Faculty of Agriculture and Economics, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Sławomir Adam Kornaś: Department of Zoology and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 31-059 Kraków, Poland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-22

Abstract: The common hamster is a critically endangered species, but it is also perceived as a pest. Searching for an economic reason for its protection can be an argument to prevent its extinction. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the identification services provided by hamsters in the agricultural ecosystem and the determination of their correlation with human welfare. We propose the methods that can be applied for this purpose, and we check if the knowledge of the species is sufficient in order to use available methods for estimating the value of the services. The common hamster is a provider of supporting, regulating, and cultural services. Estimating their value is difficult because (1) available knowledge on the species’ ecology requires an update, in many aspects, due to changes to agricultural practices that have taken place since the 1970s (e.g., assessment of actual losses to cereal, vegetable, or root crops), and also extending by context, enabling the economic valuation of services (e.g., determination of impact range on various habitat components); it is also necessary to identify the correlations between profits and losses caused by this species; (2) there is a low level of public knowledge on the presence of hamsters and their role in the ecosystem. Education, primarily for consumers, followed by the promotion of hamsters as an umbrella and key species for agricultural areas, may result in the development of cultural services, which will increase the economic value of the services provided by hamsters.

Keywords: European hamster; ecosystem service; valuation methods; service provider; education; protection; pest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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