Marine Biodiversity: An Economic Valuation
نویسندگان
چکیده
A goods and services approach has been applied to determine the economic value of marine biodiversity in the UK. This paper presents the goods and services resulting from marine biodiversity in UK waters, detailing the habitats and species which provide them, and the likely impact of a decrease in biodiversity. Where possible a monetary value was assigned to each of the goods and services. Valuing the environment in monetary terms is still controversial, and the problems with this approach are recognised and discussed with particular reference to marine biodiversity. The monetary figures provided here are the best value estimates currently available, but they should only be used as indicators of value, and the strength of this monetary data lies in its capacity to raise awareness of the importance of marine biodiversity. A decline in UK marine biodiversity could result in a varying, and at present unpredictable, change in the provision of all these goods and services. This could result in severe impacts on society and the economy, including reduced resilience and resistance to change, declining marine environmental health and water quality, reduced fisheries potential, loss of recreational opportunities, decreased employment, and reduced carbon uptake.
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