+

The value of estuarine and coastal

ecosystem services Edward B. Barbier, Sally D. Hacker, Chris Kennedy, Evamaria W. Koch, Adrian C. Stier, and Brian R. Silliman

2011. Ecological Monographs 81(2): 169 – 193.

+Ecosystem Services

“…interpreted to imply the contribution of nature to a variety

of ‘goods and services’”

Economists describe ecosystem services as either

1. Goods = products, e.g. fish harvest, drinking water

2. Services = benefits, e.g. tourism, erosion control

3. Cultural benefits – e.g. heritage value

+Ecosystem Services or Benefits

Good or service that person or society is willing to pay for

Good or service increases human welfare

Classifying Ecosystem Services

Intermediate vs. Final

Consumptive vs. Non-consumptive

Direct vs. Indirect

Use vs. Non-Use

+Three steps of economic valuation

1) Change in ecosystem structure, functions,

and process

2) Effect of change on quality and quantity of

services

3) Change in human welfare from change in

ecosystem service

+Ecosystem Production Function

Ecological Production Function of Coral Reefs in

Seychelles

+Coral Reefs

+Seagrass beds

+S

alt

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es

+M

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gro

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s

+S

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d b

ea

ch

es a

nd

du

ne

s

+Problems with Economic Valuation

of Ecological Services

Lack of available data

Spatial and temporal variation

Problems with certain valuation methods such as

replacement cost method

Connectivity and synergy of ECEs

+Management Action Plan

Require estimates derived by economists, ecologists, and

environmental scientists working together

Recognize and address ‘costs’ of destroying ECEs

Prevent and regulate activities that lead to loss of ECEs

Co-management of ECEs by local communities and

governments; particularly where economy of local

community dependent on delivery of services from ECEs

Increase restoration efforts (while reducing destruction) of

ECEs

+Valuation of Ecosystem Services of

ECEs in Puerto Rico

Images taken from P. Bradley’s presentation “The Human Component of the

Coral Reef Ecosystem: A Framework for Sustainability. Downloaded pdf of her

ppt at

http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/emecs9/Presentations/Wednesday/Salon%2

07-8/am/0915%

Document downloaded from: http://www.epa.gov/ged/quantify.pdf

QUANTIFYING ECOSYSTEM SERVICE OF CORAL REEF =

SHORELINE PROTECTION

+ QUANTIFYING ECOSYSTEM SERVICE OF CORAL REEF =

SHORELINE PROTECTION

QUANTIFYING ECOSYSTEM SERVICE OF CORAL REEF =

SHORELINE PROTECTION