WRI Stories Feed: Coral Reefs

Video: Protecting Coral Reefs

Lauretta Burke — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:18:46 -0500

Reef ecosystems face both local and global threats. Here is what needs to be done to ensure the world’s corals and mangroves are preserved.

This video talks about the upcoming Reefs at Risk Revisited project, and how placing an economic value on coral reefs and mangroves can help make the case for conservation. (Read the extended Q&A here.)

Protecting Coral Reefs: A Q&A With WRI's Lauretta Burke

Polly Ghazi — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:56:00 -0500

Lauretta Burke explains why President Bush’s recent designation of 195,000 square miles of coral rich marine habitat in the Pacific Ocean is important to global reef conservation efforts.

Lauretta, who leads WRI’s Reefs at Risk project, also discusses her team’s work on the Reefs at Risk project, as well as how the economic valuation of coral reefs can be used to make the case for conservation to policymakers.

Right-click to download (MP3, 7:57, 7.3 Mb)

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LAURETTA BURKE: It’s a very positive action. We’re very pleased with this designation. It’s a large area, and when you protect large marine areas you stand a better chance of success. And the areas that they have selected in the Pacific include some very pristine marine areas. So there is a very good chance of reducing future threats from overfishing pressure on these reefs.

GHAZI: What are the major threats that face the world’s coral reefs and what more needs to be done to protect them?

BURKE: There’s a wide variety of threats affecting coral reefs, some local in nature and some global. Of the local threats, one of the most pervasive is overfishing pressure which can be reduced by this sort of Monument Status and by restrictions on commercial fishing within these reserves. Some other local threats include coastal development and runoff from the land, also runoff from excessive fertilizer application, and in some areas, tourism impacts. The global threats are obviously more difficult to deal with. As we emit more greenhouse gasses we’re getting warmer seas. We’re also getting acidifying seas. So it’s important that there are actions to reduce the rate of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2. But a combination of local action and global action is needed because, as reefs face increasing pressure from these global threats, one thing we can do is reduce the local threats, thereby giving them a better chance to recover after an event like coral bleaching.

Integrated Threat: The Reefs at Risk Threat Index

GHAZI: So how and where is the World Resources Institute contributing to reef conservation efforts, and are we concentrating more on the local than the global solutions?

BURKE: Certainly in the past we’ve focused more on local solutions; now we’re including consideration of these global threats. The original global Reefs at Risk Analysis, which is a map-based indicator of threats to the world’s reefs, focused on local threats and developed a set of indicators to show the relative pressure from human activities across the world’s reefs. The project series began 10 years ago, and last year we began a new project called “Reefs at Risk Revisited” which involves a high resolution update of this global threat analysis which will now include global threats. We are looking specifically at warming seas, and ocean acidification out to the year 2050.

It’s a fairly comprehensive study in that it integrates information on human pressure on coral reefs, the climate related threats, current status and management of reefs and policy recommendations. So it’s a very useful body of information for priority setting. It’s done in a geographic information system so these spatial data sets can be used by both regional and national organizations to do priority setting within their countries.

GHAZI: Who do you expect to use this information?

BURKE: A wide variety of users. One of the main users is coastal planning organizations and conservation organizations that are working on coral reefs. So these tools very much help with priority setting within the region, or within countries. They also help governments and MPA managers looking at different threats within different areas to guide prioritization. We also target tourism agencies. We like to show how much revenue is contributed through coral reef associated tourism, and we think this will help raise awareness within the tourism industry of the importance of maintaining healthy reefs.

GHAZI: The economic valuation of reefs is an innovative area that WRI is getting into, so could you explain a little more?

BURKE: Economic valuation involves putting a dollar value on the goods and services provided by coral reefs. Very often dollar values speak to policymakers and businesses in a way that other conservation arguments can’t. The economic valuation helps to highlight how these groups are currently benefiting from a healthy reef ecosystem and what they stand to lose if a reef continues to decline. So in the case of tourism, we raise awareness about the large values that are often coming into countries and also the taxes that governments receive because of tourists visiting the country. We also look at the contribution of reef-associated fisheries to the economy and the shoreline protection services provided by reefs. And that’s a very important and very high-value service.

GHAZI: So what countries are you doing economic valuation in, and are there any examples of how policymakers have used the information that you’ve given them.

Belize: Shoreline Protection from Coral Reefs

BURKE: Yes. Our country level work on economic valuation of coral reefs began in the eastern Caribbean in Tobago and St. Lucia. We’re just finishing a project in Belize looking at the economic value of coral reefs and mangroves. And we’ve now begun work in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. In Tobago for example, we looked at the country as a whole, but also at the value of coral reefs in the Buccoo Reef Marine Park, which at present is a bit of a paper park - although it’s designated, there isn’t particularly active management enforcement of fishing regulations, and there’s not good control of land-based sources of pollution entering the Buccoo Reef area. So we looked at the economic contribution of tourists to that area and compared it with the cost of interventions to improve water quality and coral reef health in that area. And that was a case where it’s clear that some modifications that would radically improve water quality and thereby help reef health were certainly sensible investments in the long-term interest of the island of Tobago.

GHAZI: So are you optimistic then about the future survival of the world’s coral reefs in the long term?

BURKE: I’m confident that reefs will survive long term, but I think there will be a smaller area of coral reefs a century from now than there is today. One of the things that’s very important as we pull together information on threats and on warming seas and acidifying seas, is to identify the areas with the best prospect of staying healthy in the long run, and really protect those areas. And I think this designation of protected area in the Pacific by President Bush will help to that end.

High-Value Assets: Belize's Coral Reefs and Mangroves

Emily Cooper — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:29:14 -0500

A new WRI/WWF Central America analysis finds that the coral reefs and mangroves of Belize make a substantial contribution to the country’s economy. Learn more about WRI’s work on Belize coastal ecosystems.

Belize’s coral reefs and mangrove-lined coasts provide critical protection against erosion and wave-induced damages from tropical storms. They have supported artisanal fishing communities for generations and they stand at the center of a vibrant tourism industry, drawing snorkelers, divers and sport fishermen from all over the world.

Despite these benefits, coral reefs and mangroves are frequently overlooked and underappreciated in coastal investment and policy decisions.

Indeed, unchecked coastal development, over-fishing and pressures from tourism threaten the country’s reefs and mangroves. Climate-related changes—such as warming seas, ocean acidification and fiercer storms—could mean that more destruction of coastline ecosystems looms on the horizon.

In a study released today, WRI and WWF Central America evaluate and quantify the economic benefits reefs and mangroves provide to tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection in Belize.

The study looks at only three of the many culturally and economically valuable services provided by these ecosystems in Belize. Nonetheless, even within this narrow scope, these coastal ecosystems clearly provide Belize’s economy with vitally important goods and services.

Valuation Results

Annual Economic Contribution of Coral Reefs and Mangroves in Belize

Coral reef- and mangrove-associated tourism contributed an estimated US$150-196 million to Belize’s economy in 2007, or 12-15 percent of GDP (see chart).

Reefs and mangroves also protect coastal properties from erosion and wave-induced damage, providing an estimated US$231-347 million in avoided damages per year. Additionally, reefs and mangroves provide substantial benefits to the culturally and economically important fishing community, at another US$14-16 million per year.

The full technical report and methodology are coming soon.

Action Needed to Save Belize’s Coastal Ecosystems

Belize’s government, NGOs and private sector are now beginning to recognize the importance of coastal ecosystems to the economy. Nevertheless, the amount currently invested in protecting Belize’s coral reefs and mangroves is very small when compared to the contribution of these resources to the national economy.

Belize’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) system, consisting of 18 protected areas managed primarily by the Fisheries and Forestry Departments along with local NGOs, is widely hailed as an example of forward thinking in marine conservation. The MPAs are an important draw for divers, snorkelers, and sport fishermen, and contain no-fishing areas that help to maintain stocks of key commercial species.

The MPA system is a good first step. However, the system is under-funded, and staff, fuel, and equipment limitations make it difficult to curb illegal fishing and monitor visitation in most of the reserves.

As these coastal and marine resources become increasingly threatened, it is critical to recognize the value they provide and to incorporate this value into policy decision-making.

The Coastal Capital study of Belize finds it is in the long-term economic interest of Belize to:

1) Invest in management, monitoring, and compliance. Greater investments in oversight and management are necessary to protect and preserve Belize’s reefs and mangroves, together with the material benefits they bestow. For instance:

Reinvigorate the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, whose mission is to support the sustainable use of Belize’s coastal ecosystems, and build capacity for monitoring the state and use of coastal resources.
Tighten fishing regulations and invest greater resources in enforcement.
Increase overall investment in MPAs and improve fee collection and monitoring of visitors.
Build efforts to reduce coral bleaching into the management and expansion of the MPA network.

2) Plan and implement development sensibly. The value of coastal ecosystems must be taken into account when making development policy and management decisions that may adversely affect their health. Here is how they could do so:

Enforce land-use and development regulations in the coastal zone.
Minimize the loss of mangroves along the shoreline.
Conduct and thoroughly evaluate Environmental Impact Assessments and subsequent compliance plans for development in sensitive coastal areas, such as the cayes.

Read more about the economic contributions Belize’s Coastal Capital provides.

Belize’s Reefs and Mangroves Tagged with High Economic Value

Paul Mackie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Three key services provided by coral reefs and mangroves in Belize are worth an estimated US$395 million to US$559 million per year, according to a report released today by the World Resources Institute and the World Wildlife Fund.

Annual Economic Contribution of Coral Reefs and Mangroves in Belize“Putting a dollar value on the goods and services provided by reefs and mangroves helps to translate them into a language that everyone speaks,” said Lauretta Burke, a senior associate at WRI. “Hopefully, these findings will contribute to well-informed decisions regarding the management of these critical resources.”

The report, [Coastal Capital: Belize](node/10497), estimates the annual economic value of coral reef- and mangrove-associated tourism in Belize at between US$150 million and US$196 million, accounting for between 12 and 15 percent of the Caribbean nation’s GDP. Benefits from reef- and mangrove-dependent fisheries contribute a further US$14 million to US$16 million to the economy.

Reefs and mangroves also protect coastal properties from erosion and wave-induced damage. WRI estimates that Belize’s coral reefs provide an estimated US$120 million to US$180 million in avoided damages per year. Mangroves protect the coastline from both waves and storm surge, providing an additional US$111 million to US$167 million in protection annually.

Despite growing recognition of the economic importance of coastal resources, reefs and mangroves face growing threats from unchecked coastal development, over-fishing, and pressures from tourism. Climate-related changes such as warming seas and fiercer storms will compound these impacts in the future.

“The goods and services offered by coral reefs and mangroves are frequently overlooked or underappreciated in coastal investment and policy decisions,” said Emily Cooper, a research associate at WRI and lead author of the study. “The amount currently invested in protecting Belize’s coral reefs and mangroves is very small when compared to the contribution of these resources to the national economy.”

Belize’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) system is widely hailed as an example of forward-thinking in marine conservation. Consisting of 18 protected areas managed primarily by the country’s fisheries and forestry departments in collaboration with local NGOs, the MPAs are an important draw for divers, snorkelers and sport fishermen, and contain no-fishing areas that help to maintain stocks of key commercial species. The system, however, is under-funded, and staff, fuel, and equipment limitations make it difficult to curb illegal fishing and monitor visitation in most of the reserves.

“Belize’s reefs and mangroves offer crucial socio-economic benefits but are already threatened by overuse, degradation and fragmentation. Climate change will undoubtedly compound these through increased frequency of impacts from mass bleaching and storm occurrences, as well as coastal erosion and sedimentation,” said Nadia Bood, Mesoamerican reef scientist and climate change officer for WWF Central America. “This makes urgent the need to act now to alleviate human threats and increase the resilience potential of these very important ecosystems.”

WRI’s Coastal Capital project receives key financial support from the Oak Foundation, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SwedBio, the Campbell Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation. The full report can be accessed on WRI’s website at http://www.wri.org/publication/coastal-capital-belize .

EPA Partners With WRI to Heighten Awareness of Ecosystem Services

Paul Mackie — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:13:15 -0400

The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a collaboration to deliver improved science and practical tools to help companies and governments protect ecosystems and address climate change.

“This is an important collaboration in bringing research on ecosystem services into the mainstream of science, business and public policy,” said Rick Linthurst, national program director of the EPA’s Ecological Research Program.

WRI’s ecosystem services brochureEcosystem services are the benefits people obtain from forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems. A forest, for example, not only provides wood for timber and paper but also controls erosion, purifies water, stores carbon dioxide, and offers recreation.

The partnership will bring a greater recognition and understanding of the importance of ecosystems to economic development and human well-being. It will also help planners better determine development options that allow affected natural resources to continue to produce services that meet the needs of current and future generations.

Craig Hanson, acting director of WRI’s People and Ecosystems Program, added, “This collaboration will link EPA’s quality scientific research on ecosystem services with WRI’s work to help private- and public-sector leaders make the connection between healthy ecosystems and the attainment of their economic goals. This partnership will make our Corporate Ecosystem Services Review, mapping of ecosystem services, and economic valuation efforts even more powerful.”

Businesses, local and state governments, researchers, and international organizations - which are increasingly retooling their environmental-management systems to address ecosystem services - will benefit from the partnership.

As part of the collaboration, Dr. Suzanne Marcy, lead for outreach and education in the Ecological Research Program of the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, will be based at WRI’s headquarters. She will focus on linking emerging scientific data about the health and economic value of ecosystem services with WRI’s various projects on water quality, biofuels, coral reefs, and business sustainability, among others.

In addition, WRI’s research will inform the EPA Ecological Research Program’s initiatives in the Coastal Carolinas, the Willamette Valley in Oregon, Tampa Bay, the upper-Midwest, and the Southwest.

High Economic Values Placed on Coral Reefs in Tobago and St. Lucia

Paul Mackie — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Direct annual economic benefits of tourism and fisheries resulting from coral reefs amounts to US$94 million in St. Lucia and US$44 million in Tobago. Those numbers amount to 11 percent and 15 percent of those Caribbean islands’ yearly gross-domestic product.

Tobago reefs“The health of Tobago’s reefs is vital to the island’s tourism product,” said Cmdre. Anthony Franklin, director of the Institute of Marine Affairs. “Tourists and local residents should benefit greatly in the future because of the advances these economic baseline findings could provide towards smart policies.”

The findings were announced here today along with the release of the full study, Coastal Capital - Economic Valuation of Coral Reefs in Tobago and St. Lucia, by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Buccoo Reef Trust (BRT), the Institute of Marine Affairs, the Government of St. Lucia, and many others.

“Hopefully, knowing the economic value of the reefs will help policymakers develop and manage these beautiful and beneficial coastal areas with caution and care,” said Lauretta Burke, senior associate at WRI and lead author of the study, which puts dollar values on tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection provided by reefs.

“Reef-valuation numbers arm government officials with powerful information they can use to make educated policy. They also provide the public and other interested parties with something they can use to push officials to make smart policies,” added Dr. Owen Day, director of the BRT.

Coral Reefs in Tobago

In Tobago, more than half of tourists dive, snorkel, or take a glass-bottom boat to the Buccoo Reef. Reef-associated tourism in Tobago contributes an estimated US$43 million in direct expenditure, such as food, lodgings, and ocean-related recreation. Two estimates not captured within the Tobago economy were also determined. One, the annual value of local residents’ use of the reefs and coralline beaches is estimated between US$13 million and US$44 million. Two, the additional satisfaction derived by participants above what they paid for dive and snorkel trips is estimated at US$1 million.

In St. Lucia, more than one-quarter of tourists dive or snorkel during their visits. The direct economic impact from reef-associated tourist expenditure was more than US$91 million last year. In addition, the annual value of local residents’ use of the reefs and coralline beaches is estimated between US$52 million and US$109 million. Additional satisfaction derived by participants above what they paid for dive and snorkel trips is estimated at US$2.3 million.

Fishery activity impacted by coral reefs have a much smaller economic impact, but provide other important benefits such as jobs, cultural value, and a safety net of food, especially during difficult economic time periods. The annual direct economic impact of coral reef-associated fisheries is estimated between US$700,000 and $US1.1 million for Tobago and US$400,000 to US$700,000 for St. Lucia.

Tobago, which is about 26 miles long and six miles wide, has coral reefs that protect nearly 50 percent of its shoreline. The annual value in 2007 of shoreline-protection services provided by coral reefs - in potentially avoided damages - is estimated to be between US$18 million and $US33 million.

St. Lucia, which is about 30 miles long and 14 miles wide, has coral reefs that protect 44 percent of its shoreline. The annual value in 2007 of shoreline-protection services provided by coral reefs - in potentially avoided damages - is estimated to be between US$28 million and $US50 million.

Funding for this project came from the MacArthur Foundation, the United Nations Environment Program - Caribbean Environment Program, the Ocean Foundation, the Henry Foundation, the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SwedBio, the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), and the Buccoo Reef Trust.

Coastal Capital: Putting a Value on The Caribbean's Coral Reefs

Lauretta Burke — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:13:47 -0400

Coral reefs are a vital part of the Caribbean’s marine environment, and are integral to the economies of many of the region’s small island states. WRI’s economic valuation methodology can help decision-makers in the region better understand the enormous economic value the reef provides and use this data to make better-informed coastal policy.

Click here to view the full results.

Tourists flock to the region to see the beautiful beaches and marine life these biologically rich habitats support. Local fishermen rely on healthy reefs as a source of food and livelihood. In addition, reefs act as natural barriers to protect the islands from the worst ravages of tropical storms.

The proper management of the Caribbean’s Coastal Capital is essential for the region’s economic and environmental health.

Yet government officials, developers and the public often overlook or do not fully appreciate the harmful effects coral reef degradation, resulting in short-sighted decisions about coastal investment, development and land use. Knowledge of the economic values stemming from coral reefs supports sustainable planning which maximizes the long-term economic potential of coastal areas.

But a clear presentation of the economic value derived from coral reefs can guide the sustainable use of these resources.

The World Resources Institute, in collaboration with government and NGO partners in St. Lucia, Tobago and Belize, has developed an economic valuation methodology to quantify the value of coral reefs in the Caribbean more accurately. The methodology supports the evaluation of trade-offs, thereby highlighting the management and development paths which protect coral reefs, and maximize the economic contribution of coral reefs to the economy.

Our Excel-based Economic Valuation Tool guides users through a simple method that does not assess Total Economic Value (TEV), but instead focuses on three key goods and services: coral reef-associated tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection services. Read more about the methodology (PDF, 4 pages, 59 Kb)

The tool evaluates the economic impact of both coral reef-associated tourism and fisheries with a financial analysis method that tracks the financial flows and wider economic impact these two industries generate.

Shoreline protection is the third aspect of the Economic Valuation Tool. WRI developed an innovative method for evaluating the role of coral reefs in protecting the shoreline. Using a modified avoided damages approach, the tool estimates the total value of reduction in wave-induced erosion and property damage due to coral reefs.

Countries across the Caribbean can use the methodology; and the hope is that its widespread use will support wise, forward-looking coastal policy throughout the region.

WRI has made lower bound (partial) estimates of the economic contribution of coral reefs to the economy of two pilot sites in the Eastern Caribbean: Tobago and St. Lucia. On these two small islands, coral reef tourism alone accounted for direct and indirect economic impact totaling US$101–130 million in Tobago and US$ 160–194 million in St. Lucia.

Ultimately, WRI hopes the project will:

Increase local capacity to perform ecosystem valuation and use the valuation results in planning and decision-making;
Make the economic case for better coastal and land management, as well as for increased investment in Marine Protected Areas, so that these are viewed as investments for the economic and societal benefits of the country;
Arm NGOs and marginalized resource users with powerful information, giving them a greater voice in local decision-making.

For a quick summary of the results, click here (PDF, 6 pages, 208 Kb). For the full Coastal Capital report, click here (PDF, 76 pages, 1,001 Kb). To view maps of the shoreline protection analysis, click here. Click here to learn more about one WRI’s project partners, Buccoo Reef Trust.

Choking Coastal Waters

Mindy Selman — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:39:58 -0500

My team at WRI, together with Dr. Bob Diaz at the Virginia Marine Institute, has identified and mapped 415 eutrophic and hypoxic coastal systems worldwide through an extensive literature review. Of these, 169 are documented hypoxic areas, 233 are areas of concern and 13 are systems in recovery.

World Hypoxic and Eutrophic Coastal Areas

Our findings highlight the dramatic growth of areas receiving the endflows of nitrogen and phosphorus created by agriculture, increasing industry, fossil fuel combustion, and population growth. More than 1,000 scientists estimated, in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, that, as a result of human activities over the past 50 years, the flux of nitrogen has doubled over natural values while the flux of phosphorus has tripled.

The effects of nutrient pollution in coastal waters may include excessive growth of algae, including harmful algae species that can cause fish kills and shellfish poisoning in humans; reduced species diversity and dominance of gelatinous organisms such as jellyfish; damage to coral reefs; and formation of oxygen-depleted “dead zones.”

The map shows three categories:

Documented hypoxic areas - Areas with scientific evidence that hypoxia was caused, at least in part, by an overabundance of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Areas of concern - Systems that exhibit effects of eutrophication, including elevated nitrogen and phosphorus levels, elevated chlorophyll a levels, harmful algal blooms, changes in the benthic community, damage to coral reefs, and fish kills. These systems are impaired by nutrients and are possibly at risk of developing hypoxia. Some of the systems may already be experiencing hypoxia, but lack conclusive scientific evidence of the condition.
Systems in recovery - Areas that once exhibited low dissolved oxygen levels and hypoxia, but are now improving. For example, the Black Sea recovery is largely due to the economic collapse of Eastern Europe in the 1990s, which greatly reduced fertilizer use. Others, like Boston Harbor in the United States and the Mersey Estuary in the United Kingdom also have improved water quality resulting from better industrial and wastewater controls.

The actual extent and prevalence of eutrophication is only beginning to be studied. Some countries, such as the United States and European Union, have undertaken comprehensive coastal surveys in the past five years, and have the most comprehensive coastal data on eutrophication. However, data do not exist or are not publicly available for areas that may be suffering from the effects of eutrophication.

Given the state of global data, the actual number of eutrophic and hypoxic areas around the world is likely to be greater than the 415 listed here. The most under-represented region is Asia. Asia has relatively few documented eutrophic and hypoxic areas despite large increases in intensive farming methods, industrial development, and population growth over the past 20 years. Africa, South America, and the Caribbean also have few reliable sources of coastal water quality data.

It is critical that we begin to close the gaps in our knowledge about where eutrophication is occurring globally.

As part of WRI’s work on this topic, we will release a policy note in March 2008 entitled Eutrophication and Hypoxia in Coastal Areas: A Global Assessment of the State of Knowledge.

What Are Coral Reefs Worth?

Lauretta Burke — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

View Slideshow

Coral reefs in the Caribbean have undergone massive changes over the past several decades. Algae has replaced live coral as the dominant species on many reefs. Surveys by the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment have found coral diseases throughout much of the wider Caribbean. Once-common fish, such as large-bodied snappers and groupers, are now hard to find. Sewage pollution has been identified as a problem in nearly one-quarter of sites surveyed. Live coral has declined in two-thirds of the sites for which baseline data were available. In 2004, WRI found more than 60 percent of the region is under threat from overfishing.

Coral reefs are critical to the national economies of the region, underpinning both tourism and fisheries. Yet the economic value of reefs to these two major sectors - not to mention the value to subsistence fishing and local recreation - are often unknown.

Strong and tangible economic incentives often provide the basis for successful reef management efforts. Yet many of the most ambitious governments, coastal management authorities, and businesses lack sufficient information about the value of the reefs that they govern, impeding their ability to make wise decisions.

The Value of Reefs, and the Costs of Degradation

Having identified this gap, WRI has set out to create a standardized method for accurately and easily determining the economic value of coral reef ecosystems. The goal of the project is to improve coastal resource management in Tobago and St. Lucia by providing new, reliable information to key decision makers on the current value of goods and services associated with coral reefs, on losses likely to result from degradation, and on the long-term benefits of investment in coastal management. A Microsoft-Excel-based Valuation Tool will facilitate the baseline assessment of economic values and allow for multi-year comparisons as new data becomes available.

During a two-week period in February, WRI’s Economic Valuation Team held a series of six seminars in Trinidad, Tobago, and St. Lucia to present preliminary valuation estimates for the benefits from coral reefs, such as tourism and recreation, fisheries production, and shoreline protection. The sessions provided forums for structured response to the methodology and valuation results, and to gain input on the possible application of the estimates. In addition, a beta version of the Excel-based Valuation Tool was demonstrated and seminar participants provided opinions and feedback. The seminars demonstrated considerable demand in these countries for economic valuation of coastal resources and many of the agencies attending plan to adopt the tool when it is finalized later this year.

Lessons From the Seminars

Politicians and policymakers in Trinidad, Tobago, and St. Lucia are interested in locally specific values, such as the value of Buccoo Reef in Tobago. There is considerable demand for maps showing the current value of coral reefs and value of prior sustainable development projects. These would be particularly useful in demonstrating the risk of ecosystem degradation from coastal development and the benefits of effective management.

WRI will release the final version of a valuation tool during the summer of 2007, allowing a wider audience to evaluate the financial contribution made by functioning reefs.

Additional Resources

Protecting Coral by Managing Land Use

Lauretta Burke — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500