Economic Valuation

 

Around the world, every day, coastal zones and mangroves provide natural resources and services to local people in the form of food and income. In Southeast Asia it is believed that reef based fisheries alone generate incomes of nearly 4 billion dollars per year. In Thailand for example, according to a study done by United Nations Environment  Programme (UNEP),  the value of mangroves has been estimated to 3.5 million dollars per sq. km per year. Protection of coastal ecosystems and mangroves thus becomes important not only from an ecological standpoint but also makes good economic sense.

There is growing recognition that mangroves and other coastal ecosystems should be valued in monetary terms as assets that can yield repeated economic benefits. While the roles of industries like fisheries and tourism on coastal economies are well known, their contributions to national economies and inter-linkages with livelihoods of people and poverty reduction is still poorly understood.

As the global community becomes more aware about coastal ecosystems and their economic value, it is important to promote investment in their conservation and management.  MFF seeks to address this subject by expanding and improving upon the knowledge base surrounding coastal ecosystems and economy. It works to ensure that these values are built into developmental plans and policies of countries and regions. MFF promotes this idea by developing tools that help find better ways to use coastal ecosystem resources.


For details about Actions, Outputs and Results, click [ + ]

Programmes of WorkActions/OutputsContribution to results
4. Integrating coastal ecosystem economic values into development planning and appraisal
  1. Development of simple, easy-to-apply ecosystem valuation tools and methods that can be used for planning and appraising coastal conservation and development activities

  2. Generation of information on coastal ecosystem values in response to specific development and conservation challenges and issues, and for particular high-value or threatened ecosystems and locations.

  3. Training and awareness building among both development and conservation planners on the economic value of coastal ecosystems and the use of economic tools.

  4. Development of decision-support tools, including databases and GIS maps, which integrate data on economic values with information on biophysical and socio-economic characteristics, trends and vulnerabilities in coastal areas.
  • Increased prioritisation of coastal ecosystem management in the development agendas of regional institutions

  • More efficient and effective impact and use of resources to support environmentally sustainable coastal development at the regional level

  • More inclusive development planning, appraisal, approval and monitoring processes which reflect ecosystem needs

  • Increased prioritisation of coastal ecosystem management across national development agendas, policies and budgets

  • Increased and more effective investment of funds in coastal ecosystem management

  • Enhanced investment in ecosystems as infrastructure, and fair payment for the benefits of ecosystem services

  • Improved participation in, support for, and benefit from, ecosystem conservation among coastal dwellers, especially women

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