There are limited data available that estimate the economic values of ecosystem
services from the beach and coastal dunes, and those data do not cover many of the
possible ecosystem services in detail. We only found economic values for beach
and dune ecosystem services from Chile, Mexico, Portugal, the UK, and the USA,
although most of the data acquired came from the UK and the USA. When we
compare the list of ecosystem services that are recognized as being supplied by the
beach and coastal dunes (Table 18.1) with the list of ecosystem services that have
been studied in more detail and their economic values calculated, it becomes
evident that supporting ecosystem services are generally overlooked in the literature, and other provisioning and regulatory ecosystem services are also ignored.
The estimated economic values of ecosystem services such as recreational,
cultural, and aesthetic have been studied most, with a total of 8. In this case, most
of them have focused on the beach and only 2 were performed on coastal dunes.
It is interesting to note that the economic value of the ecosystem service of
protection against storms, hurricanes, and floods had a relatively low number of
estimates (a total of 6), even though it seems likely that it would be a very
important ecosystem service. Most of these studies have focused on coastal dunes
(4) and 2 on the beach. Finally, carbon sequestration is an ecosystem service that
has been studied occasionally in coastal dunes and slacks (Table 18.2).
In the economic estimates that we gathered, it is obvious that the economic
values of the costs of protection were high both for the beach and the coastal
dunes, although those for the dunes were higher. Slowly but surely, stakeholders
and the government are becoming more aware of the relevance of coastal protection and are willing to invest more in coastal dune restoration in order to gain
protection against natural hazards (storm, storm surges, flooding, erosion).
Aesthetic and recreational ecosystem services are also considered to be very
valuable to the beach (aesthetic and recreational) and the dunes (recreational).
In fact, Mendoza-González (2009) found that tourists were willing to pay for
higher hotel prices as long as they were closer to the beach (recreational) and had
access to the scenic beauty of the coast (hotel rooms looking at the ocean versus
not looking at the ocean; aesthetic value). Of course, further studies are necessary
to obtain a better understanding of the economic benefits that society receives from
the ecosystem services provided by the beach and coastal dunes.
18.3 The Costs of Restoration Efforts
Although the set of examples on restoration efforts presented in this book were
performed in several countries, the economic costs of such actions were not always
readily available. Usually, scientists are asked to monitor the effectiveness of
restoration actions and do not deal with the socioeconomic part of restoration.
In our case, we were only able to gather information from European countries and
for the USA. This is probably because the information from the funding agencies
(local and federal governments) is not always available to the public.
18 The Coasts and Their Costs
295
services from the beach and coastal dunes, and those data do not cover many of the
possible ecosystem services in detail. We only found economic values for beach
and dune ecosystem services from Chile, Mexico, Portugal, the UK, and the USA,
although most of the data acquired came from the UK and the USA. When we
compare the list of ecosystem services that are recognized as being supplied by the
beach and coastal dunes (Table 18.1) with the list of ecosystem services that have
been studied in more detail and their economic values calculated, it becomes
evident that supporting ecosystem services are generally overlooked in the literature, and other provisioning and regulatory ecosystem services are also ignored.
The estimated economic values of ecosystem services such as recreational,
cultural, and aesthetic have been studied most, with a total of 8. In this case, most
of them have focused on the beach and only 2 were performed on coastal dunes.
It is interesting to note that the economic value of the ecosystem service of
protection against storms, hurricanes, and floods had a relatively low number of
estimates (a total of 6), even though it seems likely that it would be a very
important ecosystem service. Most of these studies have focused on coastal dunes
(4) and 2 on the beach. Finally, carbon sequestration is an ecosystem service that
has been studied occasionally in coastal dunes and slacks (Table 18.2).
In the economic estimates that we gathered, it is obvious that the economic
values of the costs of protection were high both for the beach and the coastal
dunes, although those for the dunes were higher. Slowly but surely, stakeholders
and the government are becoming more aware of the relevance of coastal protection and are willing to invest more in coastal dune restoration in order to gain
protection against natural hazards (storm, storm surges, flooding, erosion).
Aesthetic and recreational ecosystem services are also considered to be very
valuable to the beach (aesthetic and recreational) and the dunes (recreational).
In fact, Mendoza-González (2009) found that tourists were willing to pay for
higher hotel prices as long as they were closer to the beach (recreational) and had
access to the scenic beauty of the coast (hotel rooms looking at the ocean versus
not looking at the ocean; aesthetic value). Of course, further studies are necessary
to obtain a better understanding of the economic benefits that society receives from
the ecosystem services provided by the beach and coastal dunes.
18.3 The Costs of Restoration Efforts
Although the set of examples on restoration efforts presented in this book were
performed in several countries, the economic costs of such actions were not always
readily available. Usually, scientists are asked to monitor the effectiveness of
restoration actions and do not deal with the socioeconomic part of restoration.
In our case, we were only able to gather information from European countries and
for the USA. This is probably because the information from the funding agencies
(local and federal governments) is not always available to the public.
18 The Coasts and Their Costs
295