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 [ + ]