Integrated Valuation of Marine
Coastal Ecosystem Services –
Overview
Murray Patterson
School of People, Environment and Planning,
Massey University
Presentation to the Project Inception Workshop
4 December, 2012
Purpose of the Presentation
The purpose of this presentation is outline the
programme’s :
• Aims
• Rationale and Philosophy
• Key methodological steps
Please ask questions and have a discussion.
Nothing is ‘set concrete’ at this stage !!!!
Programme Aim and Scope (Yrs 1-2)
• Our aim is to develop a robust framework to characterise,
biophysically quantify, map and value coastal-marine
ecosystem services.
• The intention of the research is to ‘make visible’ coastalmarine ecosystem services that are often ignored in
resource management and business decision-making.
•
We will use Tasman Bay as a test-bed for our research in
years 1 & 2, with further research signalled in the full
proposal.
Programme Aim and Scope (Yrs 3-4)
•
At this stage, there is no guarantee that will fund of years
three and four
• However, our proposal indicated that Years 3-4 would:
 Extend the valuation/quantification method to cover
all of New Zealand’s coasts and oceans
 More fully develop the valuation/quantification
method to find solutions to resource management
problems – ‘exemplar’ case studies
 Apply valuation/quantification method to a national
scale marine policy issue.
Programme Steps
STEP 1 Conceptualisation of Ecosystem Services in
Tasman Bay
• No one unequivocal conceptual framework service
• Much debate over terminology and methodological issues
such as double counting
• Most classification systems have been developed for
terrestrial ecosystems
• Social and cultural dimensions are important
Step 1 will be particularly important in the first few months,
but will continue the lifespan of the programme
STEP 2: Biophysical Quantification and Mapping
Step 1:
Ecosystem Services
Conceptual Framework
Step 2a:
Ecological
Understanding
of Tasman Bay
Step 2b:
Ecosystem Services
Indicators for
Tasman Bay, defined
in biophysical terms
(Ideal)
Step 2c:
GIS Data Layers
for Tasman Bay
•Substrate Layers
•Seabed benthic
communities and habitats
•Water Column hydrology
•Water column biology
•Human Activities
Step 2d:
Reality Check IF
no GIS data, then
can’t quantify and
map
Step 2e: Maps of
ecosystem Services
indicators for
Tasman Bay, defined
in biophysical terms
(Approx 15-20 maps)
Investigate ways
of generating
missing GIS
layers.
Limited funding to
do this in Years 3
and 4.
Step3:
Economic
Valuation
Programme Steps
STEP 3
Is there times series data available?
If so we could generate ‘radar diagram’ like this, which is good for non-commensurable
physical units:
Programme Steps
STEP 3 Economic Valuation of Coastal Marine
Ecosystem Services

Biophysical indicators  converted to economic values  maps economic
values of ecosystems

Main economic valuation methods to be used will be:

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



Other non-monetary metrics will be used as appropriate

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
Avoided cost
Replacement cost
Hedonic pricing
Contingent valuation
Benefit transfer
Cultural Values
Intrinsic Value
Contributory Value
One critical/reflective article on limitations of these valuation methods, will be
produced
Programme Steps
STEP 4: Matauranga Maori interpretation of ecosystem
services
Research questions include:
 How relevant is ecosystem services concept from an Matauranga Maori perspective?
 All too often cultural values as seen just as ‘another category’ ecosystem services – a
box to be ticked off. Is this appropriate or are the better ways of approaching the
problem.
 Can an we diviise alternative framework to ‘ecosystem services’ for hapu/iwi?
One report will be produced to summarise these issues, and provide guidance hapu/iwi.

Dr Huhana Smith, Aroha Spinks, April Bennett, Dr Anthony Cole, Dr Kai Chan
Programme Steps
STEP 5:
Application to a Practical Problem in Nelson
Bays

‘Short-sharp’ application – only two or three months

Years 3-4 will focus more on applying the method to practical problems.

Any suggestions ?
Study Boundaries?
• Tasman Bay and Golden Bay? Or just Tasman Bay?
(By including Golden Bay to do capture any extra
ecosystem services or processes?
• How far out to sea?
Tasman Bay and Golden Bay?
Documentation
• Detailed Methodology (7 pages)
• Full Proposal – minus CVs (32 pages)
Everyone should have a copy of these
The Research Team
Massey University
Murray Patterson (Science Leader)
Research Fellow (to be appointed)
Cawthorn Institute
• Joanne Paul Gillespie or Chris Cornelisen to provide this
overview.
•
Rationale for the ecosystem
services approach
• Makes ecological processes/functions visible
• Can compare ecological values and economic values in
same terms
• We intend to shift thinking about coastal-marine
management away from a fragmented concentration on
single issues, single processes and single resources, to a
more holistic appreciation of the whole-of-system
ecosystem services values and processes
Example chapter
Chapter 20: Nitrogen Cycling and Storage
20.1
Importance to Nelson Bays Ecology
20.2
Describe and Quantify Nitrogen Processes
20.2.1 Flows
20.2.2 Sinks (Stocks?)
20.2.3 Box Diagram
20.3
Key indicators (from 20.1 and 20.2)
20.4
Spatial dimension
20.5
Temporal dimension
20.6
Forward Links to Regulation and Provision services
20.7
Stressors (natural/human) on nitrogen processes
20.8
Valuation
20.9
Policy Messages and Implications
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[1 page, more if more indicators]
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