A better alternative is to preserve these (and any other) natural ecosystems and
use the many ecosystem services in a more rational manner, instead of overexploiting a few of them. By preserving natural ecosystems, they remain dynamic
and functional, and ecosystem services are preserved too (Balvanera et al. 2001).
This would be a win–win situation yielding important economic benefits,
improved human well-being, and better-preserved natural ecosystems. Because of
the crucial role that sandy beaches and coastal dunes play in human society
(recreational, aesthetic and protective) plus the multiple beneficial services that
they provide to society and, on top of the inherent reasons for protection, our focus
on these ecosystem services need to be prioritized and far more recognized than at
present if we want to continue to receive the benefits from them. In brief, before
investing in restoration (which is not always 100 % successful, but is usually very
expensive) natural ecosystems should be preserved in their own integrity, and also
because of the many benefits to our society.
Acknowledgments We are very grateful to all the authors of the chapters in this book who
kindly provided us with information of the economic costs of the restoration efforts in which they
have participated: Patrick Hesp, Mike Hilton, Alicia Acosta, Andrea Pickart, Bas Arens, Ab
Grootjans, Peter Vestergaard, Rusty Feagin, and José Carlos Muñoz Reinoso.
References
Acosta ATR, Jucker T, Prisco I, Santoro R (2012) Passive recovery of Mediterranean coastal
dunes following limitations to human trampling. In: Martínez ML, Gallego-Fernández JB,
Hesp PA (eds) Restoration of coastal dunes, Chap. 12, this volume. Springer, Berlin
Alves F, Roebeling P, Pinto P, Batista P (2009) Valuing ecosystem services losses from coastal
erosion using a benefit transfer approach: a case study for the central Portuguese coast.
J Coastal Res 56:1169–1173
Arens SM, Jungerius PD, van der Meulen F (2001) Coastal dunes. In: Warren A, French JR (eds)
Habitat conservation: managing the physical environment. Wiley, London
Arens SM, Slings QL, Geelen LHWT, Van der Hagen HGJM (2012) Restoration of dune
mobility in the Netherlands. In: Martínez ML, Gallego-Fernández JB, Hesp PA (eds)
Restoration of coastal dunes, Chap. 7, this volume. Springer, Berlin
Balvanera P, Daily GC, Ehrlich PR, Ricketts TH, Bailey SA, Kark S, Kremen C, Pereira H (2001)
Conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. Science 291:2047
Bell FW, Leeworthy VR (1990) Recreational demand by tourists for saltwater beach days.
J Environ Econ Manag 18(3):189
Costanza R, D’Arge R, de Groot R, Farber S, Grasso M, Hannon B, Limburg K, Naeem S,
O’Neill RV, Paruelo J, Raskin RG, Sutton P, van den belt M (1997) The value of the world’s
ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387:253–260
Cowles HC (1899) The ecological relations of vegetation on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan.
Bot Gaz 27:95–117
De Groot RS, Wilson MA, Boumans RMJ (2002) A typology for the classification, description
and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services. Ecol Econ 41(3):393–408
De Groot R (2006) Function-analysis and valuation as a tool to assess land-use conflicts inplanning
for sustainable, multi-functional landscapes. Landscape and Urban Plan 75:175–186
Edwards SF, Gable FJ (1991) Estimating the value of beach recreation from property values: an
exploration with comparisons to nourishment costs. Ocean Shorel Manag 15:37–55
302
O. Pérez-Maqueo et al.
use the many ecosystem services in a more rational manner, instead of overexploiting a few of them. By preserving natural ecosystems, they remain dynamic
and functional, and ecosystem services are preserved too (Balvanera et al. 2001).
This would be a win–win situation yielding important economic benefits,
improved human well-being, and better-preserved natural ecosystems. Because of
the crucial role that sandy beaches and coastal dunes play in human society
(recreational, aesthetic and protective) plus the multiple beneficial services that
they provide to society and, on top of the inherent reasons for protection, our focus
on these ecosystem services need to be prioritized and far more recognized than at
present if we want to continue to receive the benefits from them. In brief, before
investing in restoration (which is not always 100 % successful, but is usually very
expensive) natural ecosystems should be preserved in their own integrity, and also
because of the many benefits to our society.
Acknowledgments We are very grateful to all the authors of the chapters in this book who
kindly provided us with information of the economic costs of the restoration efforts in which they
have participated: Patrick Hesp, Mike Hilton, Alicia Acosta, Andrea Pickart, Bas Arens, Ab
Grootjans, Peter Vestergaard, Rusty Feagin, and José Carlos Muñoz Reinoso.
References
Acosta ATR, Jucker T, Prisco I, Santoro R (2012) Passive recovery of Mediterranean coastal
dunes following limitations to human trampling. In: Martínez ML, Gallego-Fernández JB,
Hesp PA (eds) Restoration of coastal dunes, Chap. 12, this volume. Springer, Berlin
Alves F, Roebeling P, Pinto P, Batista P (2009) Valuing ecosystem services losses from coastal
erosion using a benefit transfer approach: a case study for the central Portuguese coast.
J Coastal Res 56:1169–1173
Arens SM, Jungerius PD, van der Meulen F (2001) Coastal dunes. In: Warren A, French JR (eds)
Habitat conservation: managing the physical environment. Wiley, London
Arens SM, Slings QL, Geelen LHWT, Van der Hagen HGJM (2012) Restoration of dune
mobility in the Netherlands. In: Martínez ML, Gallego-Fernández JB, Hesp PA (eds)
Restoration of coastal dunes, Chap. 7, this volume. Springer, Berlin
Balvanera P, Daily GC, Ehrlich PR, Ricketts TH, Bailey SA, Kark S, Kremen C, Pereira H (2001)
Conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. Science 291:2047
Bell FW, Leeworthy VR (1990) Recreational demand by tourists for saltwater beach days.
J Environ Econ Manag 18(3):189
Costanza R, D’Arge R, de Groot R, Farber S, Grasso M, Hannon B, Limburg K, Naeem S,
O’Neill RV, Paruelo J, Raskin RG, Sutton P, van den belt M (1997) The value of the world’s
ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387:253–260
Cowles HC (1899) The ecological relations of vegetation on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan.
Bot Gaz 27:95–117
De Groot RS, Wilson MA, Boumans RMJ (2002) A typology for the classification, description
and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services. Ecol Econ 41(3):393–408
De Groot R (2006) Function-analysis and valuation as a tool to assess land-use conflicts inplanning
for sustainable, multi-functional landscapes. Landscape and Urban Plan 75:175–186
Edwards SF, Gable FJ (1991) Estimating the value of beach recreation from property values: an
exploration with comparisons to nourishment costs. Ocean Shorel Manag 15:37–55
302
O. Pérez-Maqueo et al.