The use of ecosystem services valuation in Australian coastal zone management. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marre, Jean-Baptiste; Thebaud, Olivier; Pascoe, Sean; Jennings, Sarah; Boncoeur, Jean; Coglan, Louisa
• Is Part Of: Marine policy. Volume 56(2015)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Coastal zone management -- Decision-making -- Ecosystem services -- Economic valuation; Marine resources -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Ressources marines -- Aspect économique -- Périodiques; Pêches -- Périodiques; Fisheries; Marine resources -- Economic aspects; Periodicals; 333.916405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2015.02.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-597X

Abstract

Abstract: The use and influence of ecosystem services valuation in management decision-making, particularly as it relates to coastal zone management, remains largely unexplored in the academic literature. A recent Australia-wide survey of decision-makers involved in coastal zone management examined if, how and to what extent economic valuation of coastal and marine ecosystem services is used in, and influences, decision-making in Australia. The survey also identified a set of cases where economic valuation of ecosystem services was used for decision-making, and reasons why economic values may or may not be considered in the decision-making process. This paper details the method and results from this survey. Overall, there is strong empirical evidence that economic valuation of ecosystem services is used, but with important variation across coastal and marine management contexts. However, the impact of ecosystem services valuation on policy appears to be globally weak.