Ecosystem service values of sediment generation and entrapment by marginal coral reefs at Sodwana Bay,South Africa |
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| Authors: | SCS Laing MH Schleyer JK Turpie |
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| Institution: | 1. Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), Durban, South Africa;2. James Michel Blue Economy Research Institute (BERI), University of Seychelles, Mahé, Seychelles stulaing@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9834-6290;4. Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), Durban, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7578-8168;5. Environmental Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1220-6295 |
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| Abstract: | Coral reefs provide a multitude of goods and services, some of which are difficult to value due to their intangible nature and the absence of markets to ascribe their relative worth. The coral reefs of Sodwana Bay on the northeast coast of South Africa provide several ecological goods and services, of which only two are considered here: namely, sediment generation and sediment entrapment. Both are deemed essential to the functioning of the Sodwana Bay economy. The replacement-cost method was used to estimate the annual financial cost of sediment provided to the study area if it were replaced by dredging. Sediment generation by the coral reefs was valued at R2.6–R4.8 million, and sediment entrapment valued at R71.8–R84.6 million, totalling between R74.4 million and R89.4 million (≈$5.6–$6.7 million, at R13.38/US$1) per year. |
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| Keywords: | beach-user questionnaire bioclastic sediment biodiversity coastal sand economic valuation iSimangaliso Wetland Park replacement cost |
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9834-6290;4. Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), Durban, South Africa