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A Synthesis: Three Economic Valuations of
West, Central and Southern African Ecosystem
Services
The goal of this report is to provide an overview and synthesis
of three economic valuations, each performed for the purpose
of determining the “flow of value” – or “ecosystem service”
benefits – that result from the three west, central and southern
African LMEs. While “marine” implies “ocean,” ecosystem services
arise from both ocean ecosystems and coastal ecosystems
that comprise the west, central and southern African LMEs.
This report will therefore cover both the ocean and coastal
ecosystem services examined in the three valuations.
The first study, Sumaila (2015),
19
examines ecosystem services
originating from the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem
(BCLME) (Figure 1a). This southernmost west African LME is a
changing and complex system with a mild climate that plays
an“important role in global climate and ocean processes.”
20
The
significantly generative BCLME
21
encompasses the exclusive
economic zones (EEZs) of Angola, Namibia and part of South
Africa.
22
The second study, Interwies (2011),
23
assesses the highly
productive Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME)
(Figure 1b). The GCLME extends froma defined northern border
(with seasonal fluctuations) to a less clear southern border
formed by the South Equatorial current.
24
It encompasses 16
countries fromGuinea-Bissau in the northwest coast of Africa to
Angola in the southwest.
25
Finally, the third study, Interwies and
Görlitz (2013),
26
examines those goods and services emanating
from the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME)
(Figure 1c), a cold water upwelling off the coast of north-
west Africa. The CCLME ranks third in the world for primary
productivity after the Humboldt (South American west coast)
and the BCLME, and has the highest fisheries production of any
African LME.
27
The CCLME is bordered by Morocco, Mauritania,
Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, the Canary Islands (Spain), The
Gambia, Cape Verde, and to a lesser extent, Sierra Leone.
28,29
Figure 2:
The Flow of Capital.
Source: Pendleton, L. and A. Kaup. 2015. The Future Management of
Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services for People. In: The Ocean and Us.
Neumann, C., T. Bryan, L. Pendleton, A. Kaup, J. Glavan (eds). GRID-Arendal,
Arendal, Norway. p. 46.
H
U
M
A
N
W
E
L
L
B
E
I
N
G
Natural
Capital
Economic
Capital
Social
Capital
Human
Capital
Ecosystem Services
Contribution to Human Well-being
Human well-being and the four capitals