Belize City, Nov. 14, ‘08: Three key services provided by coral reefs and mangroves in Belize “Putting a dollar value on the goods and services provided by reefs and mangroves helps to translate them into a language that everyone speaks,” said Lauretta Burke, a senior associate at World Resource Institute.

“Hopefully, these findings will contribute to well-informed decisions regarding the management of these critical resources.”

The report, Coastal Capital: Belize, estimates the annual economic value of coral reef- and mangrove-associated tourism in Belize at between US$150 million and US$196 million, accounting for between 12 and 15 percent of Belize’s GDP. Benefits from reef- and mangrove-dependent fisheries contribute a further US$15million to the economy.

Reefs and mangroves also protect coastal properties from erosion and wave-induced damage.

The World Resource Institute estimates that Belize’s coral reefs provide an estimated US$120 million to US$180 million in avoided damages per year. Mangroves protect the coastline from both wave and storm surge, providing an additional US$111 to US$167 million in protection annually.

Despite growing recognition of the economic importance of coastal resources, reefs and mangroves face growing threats from unchecked coastal development, over-fishing, and pressures from tourism. Climate-related changes such as warming seas and fiercer storms will compound these impacts in the future.

“The goods and services offered by coral reefs and mangroves are frequently overlooked or underappreciated in coastal investment and policy decisions,” said Emily Cooper, a research associate at WRI and lead author of the study.

“The amount currently invested in protecting Belize’s coral reefs and mangroves is very small when compared to the contribution of these resources to the national economy.”

Belize’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) system is widely hailed as an example of forward-thinking in marine conservation. It consists of 18 protected areas managed primarily by the country’s fisheries and forestry departments in collaboration with local NGOs.

Marine protected areas are an important draw for divers, snorkelers and sport fishermen. They contain no-fishing areas that help to maintain stocks of key commercial species.

The system, however, is under-funded, and staff, fuel, and equipment limitations make it difficult to curb illegal fishing and monitor visitation in most of the reserves. “Belize’s reefs and mangroves offer crucial socio-economic benefits but are already threatened by overuse, degradation and fragmentation. Climate change will undoubtedly compound these through increased frequency of impacts from mass bleaching and storm occurrences, as well as coastal erosion and sedimentation,” said Nadia Bood, Mesoamerican reef scientist and climate change officer for World Wildlife Fund in Central America.

By Lisbeth Ayuso
http://www.reporter.bz/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3179&Itemid=2

Three key services provided by coral reefs and mangroves in Belize “Putting a dollar value on the goods and services provided by reefs and mangroves helps to translate them into a language that everyone speaks,”
Lauretta is a smart lady,
I'm really tired of repeating myself on the subject.
Next step would be putting a dollar value on the damage for the actions.
such as
square feet of dredging =$____________.
chopping square feet of mangrove=$___________.
destroying/walling liner feet of beach =$___________.
crashing boat into linear feet of reef=$___________.
and so on. This could make it easier for the magistrates.

Yeah Elbert - but when will the politicians get it. Recently when I brought up the idea of fining people for breaking the law I got some horrified looks and was told that would take money out of their (personal) pocket.
What will it take to get them to see the future?