Valuing Coastal Systems

摘要: Integrated coastal zone management involves an assessment of development needs and economic inequality, pressures from population growth mass tourism as well social cultural conflicts. In this context, valuation functions that provide goods services is important tool. Its applications caveats are reviewed. Published value estimates range widely (i.e. 0.05–200,000 US$ ha−1 y−1) depending on function valued, method used local welfare (f.x. expressed GDP). An argument made that, despite variation imperfect knowledge ecosystem complexity, societal preferences or the ’real value’ nature, decisions will be thus helped best by rational provision scientific knowledge, both natural sciences socio-economics. A mixed methodological approach therefore suggested to most useful in practical, multidisciplinary, situations. Three cases presented European exercises at different spatial scales coast.