Table of Contents Table of Contents
Previous Page  44 / 72 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 44 / 72 Next Page
Page Background

Calculating ecosystem

services values

Using a rapid assessment protocol

developed specifically for Abu Dhabi,

the condition of a subsample of habitats

within Blue Carbon ecosystems, focusing

specifically on seagrass ecosystems, it

was possible to identify areas of highest

potential value (in terms of carbon being

sequestered and other valuable benefits

being provided as well).

As Figure 8 shows, values for ecosystem

services can be derived that reflect either

real or hypothetical value. In Abu Dhabi,

as the number of valuation studies

undertaken to date is limited, discussion

of the value of Blue Carbon co-benefits is

largely, at present, hypothetical.

Ecosystem services

Material/use values

Direct use values

Payment for ecosystem services

Real

Market prices

Option value

Damage costs

Hypothetical

Real

Hypothetical

Travel costs

Contingent

valuation

Willingnes

to pay

Willingnes

to accept

Contingent

behaviour choice

modelling

Hedonic pricing

Avoided costs

Repair costs

Mitigation/

Restoration costs

Replacement

costs

Indirect use values

Revealed preferences

Stated preferences

Non-material/non-use values

Adapted from: Spangenberg and Settele, 2010.

Figure 8

Valuation

framework (

adapted from

Spangenberg and Settele,

2010

)

Given that each Blue Carbon ecosystem

and the ecological community it

supports provides different services,

the most valuable areas will be those

that have a combination or mosaic of

these ecosystems, especially those

in relatively close proximity to assets

of value. Five areas within Abu Dhabi

possibly stand out in this regard. This is

illustrated in Figure 9.

One additional and critically important

consideration is that these ecosystems

and the services they generate cannot

be viewed in isolation (Figure 10). The

delivery of goods and services from

natural systems is dependent not only

44