|
Workshop on European coastal biological valuationDuring the workshop on marine biological valuation that was held from 6 to 8 December 2006 at Ghent (Belgium).
Marine biological valuation encompasses the determination of the value of the marine environment from a nature conservation perspective. As such, marine biological valuation aims at providing an integrated view on nature’s intrinsic value (i.e. without any reference to anthropogenic use), as oppo ed to socio-economic valuation aiming at the quantification of the goods and services. Because there is an ever increasing use of the marine environment, practitioners,
stakeholders and policy makers request clear and simple baseline maps in order to allow them make well-deliberated choices: e.g. usage maps may be used to detect conflicts in spatial distribution of human activities, whereas sedimentology maps allow to deliberately identify suitable aggregate extraction zones. These maps are indispensable within the process of spatial planning. However, a protocol to develop baseline biological valuation maps, differentiating between the intrinsic values within an area, does not exist. Consequently, when such maps are needed, one is often
obliged to trust on the available best expert judgement. Taking the success of the terrestrial biological valuation maps of Flanders (Belgium) as an example, the MARBEF Theme III and ENCOR Theme 7 teams set the development of a widely applicable and scientifically acceptable valuation protocol for the marine and coastal environment as one of their major goals. Doing so, a prototype protocol was developed, making optimal use of
- (1) the lessons learned from the terrestrial valuation experts,
- (2) existing national initiatives and
- (3) existing international directives (e.g. Habitat Directive and European Marine Strategy).
|
|
|
