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Making Economic Valuation Count for Coastal Ecosystems in the Caribbean

by Richard Waite and Erin Gray - February 18, 2014
People and economies across the Caribbean are dependent on coastal ecosystems—including coral reefs, mangroves, and beaches. Photo Credit: Katina Rogers

Governments, businesses, development agencies, and NGOs are increasingly turning to economic valuation as a way to protect coral reefs and mangroves. This process makes the economic case for protection and sustainable use of natural resources by showing the monetary, employment, and infrastructure benefits ecosystems provide—metrics that are easily understood by decision-makers.

But not all economic valuations are created equal. WRI's new guidebook shows how NGOs and other stakeholders can conduct economic valuations in ways that lead to real change on the ground.

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Coastal Capital: Ecosystem Valuation for Decision Making in the Caribbean

This guidebook details the steps in conducting a coastal ecosystem valuation to inform decision making in the Caribbean. It guides valuation practitioners—both economists and non-economists—through the three phases of a valuation effort (scoping, analysis and outreach), with an emphasis on...

by Richard Waite, Lauretta Burke, Erin Gray, Pieter van Beukering, Luke Brander, Emily McKenzie, Linwood Pendleton, Peter Schuhmann and Emma Tompkins - February 2014

Coastal Capital: Jamaica

This analysis includes a valuation of coral reef-associated fisheries, potential losses to tourism due to beach erosion, and examines the role of coral reefs in reducing coastal flooding during storms. In addition, we provide a literature review of 16 coral reef valuations conducted in Jamaica...

by Lauretta Burke, Richard Waite, Benjamin Kushner, Emily Cooper, Peter Edwards, Nathalie Zenny, Ava Maxam, Parris Lyew-Ayee and Karen McIntyre - June 2011

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