NATURAL CAPITAL
NATURAL CAPITAL
Coastal wetlands, such as mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses, are Australia’s forgotten coastal habitats. However, these habitats provide many benefits to humans including supporting coastal fisheries, protecting our coastlines, storing carbon (aka Blue Carbon) and providing areas for tourism and recreational activities.
These benefits are vital not only for our health and wellbeing, but are also critical for the long-term resilience and survival of our planet. However, managers, planners and economists often struggle to include the social, cultural and economic value derived from nature into economic decision-making, and hence, the true value of nature’s enormous wealth is often left unaccounted or undervalued.
The Australian Mapping Ocean Wealth report quantified and mapped the value ($) of services provided by Australian coastal wetlands. It represents three years of marine ecosystem service research, spatial mapping and communication for coastal wetlands in south-eastern Australia by several of Australia’s leading marine science and conservation institutions.
exploreThis project, funded by the Australian Government and in collaboration with universities and industry agencies across Australia, is developing a guide for groups setting up restoration projects focusing on blue carbon ecosystems with how best to value and measure success.
exploreFollow this program on social media @BlueCarbonLab