Recognizing the importance of economic valuation of coral reef and associated ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) established an Ad Hoc Committee on Economic Valuation of Coral Reef Ecosystems in January 2008 (21st General Meeting, Washington). The Committee was originally co-chaired by Mexico, the United States, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the ICRI Secretariat; it is now being chaired by the ICRI Secretariat assisted by CRIOBE-France (Nicolas Pascal). At the last ICRI Meeting (October 2014), new Terms of Reference were adopted.
The objectives are:
- to raise awareness on the economic benefits produced by coral reef; and their positive economic return as a public investment
- to encourage countries to integrate a mitigation strategy for coral reefs in their national laws
- to provide advice and support to countries wishing to set up a legal framework to encourage private funding for coastal management.
Under the auspices of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, a workshop “From Ecosystem Services Valuation to Action – Informing Decision Making in the Caribbean” was held in September 2014.
The Committee’s achievements so far have included the compilation of an inventory of studies, articles and publications on coral reef valuation, led by the WRI and the creation of an online valuation library, led by Marine Ecosystems Services Partnership (MESP). The Committee has been extended several times and new Terms of Reference were adopted at ICRI’s 28th General Meeting in October 2013. An implementation plan for the ToRs has been developed.
ICRI member the World Resources Institute (WRI) released a guidebook in March 2014 called Coastal Capital: Ecosystem Valuation for Decision Making in the Caribbean to help make coastal valuations more influential. This guidebook is intended for economic valuation practitioners—both economists and non-economists—who would like to conduct coastal ecosystem valuation to achieve influence and inform real-world decisions.
ICRI’s AHC on Economic Valuation of Coral Reef Ecosystems:
- Implementation plan (February 2014) for the Amended Terms of Reference for the ICRI Ad Hoc Committee on Economic Valuation of Coral Reefs Ecosystems (October 2013)
- Resolution on the activities of the Ad Hoc Committee on Economic Valuation (GM27)
- Report on the AHC on Economic Valuation (GM27)
- Report of the AHC on Economic Valuation (GM26)
- Report of the AHC on Economic Valuation (GM25)
- Report of the AHC on Economic Valuation (GM24)
- ICRI GM 23: Cover letter for the proposal & Proposal: Coral Reef Economics Community of Practice (Coral CoP)
- Report of the AHC on Economic Valuation (GM22)
- Economic valuation of coral reefs in the Caribbean region - Presentation (GM24)
- Decision on Determining the Economic Value of Coral Reefs to User Communities (GM11)
- Coastal Capital: Ecosystem Valuation for Decision Making in the Caribbean
- The true value of South Pacific Reefs - 2012
- Economic Values of Coral Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses - A Global Compilation (Conservation International, 2008)
- In the front line: shoreline protection and other ecosystem services from mangroves and coral reefs (UNEP-WCMC, 2006)
- GCRMN Socioeconomic manual for coral reef management (GCRMN, 2000)
- Coral Reef Economics Community of Practice
- Global Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management (SocMon)
- Marine Ecosystem Services Partnership (MESP)
- UNEP’s TEEB
- WRI - Economic Valuation of Coral Reefs in the Caribbean
- ReefFix: An ICZM Coral Reef Restoration, Watershed Management and Capacity Building Demonstration Project for the Caribbean
For more information on this AHC contact the ICRI Secretariat.
- WAVES Developing Guidelines for Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Accounting
- 56 billion reasons to value the Great Barrier Reef
- Finance Tools for Coral Reef Conservation: An Overview webinar (June 5th)
- Financing Coral Reef Conservation and Management with Tourism-Related Tools webinar (17th July)
- Coral Reef Barriers Provide Flood Protection for More Than 18,000 People and $1.8 Billion Worth of Coastal Infrastructure and Economic Activity Annually
- Financing Coral Reef Conservation and Management: Conservation Trust Funds and Impact Investing (2nd October)
- Increasing finance for a healthy ocean
- Financing Coral Reef Conservation