Socio-Economic Benefits of the Marine Natura 2000 Network

1. Socio-Economic Benefits of the Marine Natura 2000 Network Daniela Russi & Marianne Kettunen(on behalf of IEEP team) Expert meeting on marine Natura 2000 sites 6 November 2015, Brussels

2. Why assessing socio-economic benefits of MPAs? Strong arguments in favour of designation and good management of MPAs Useful for awareness raising activities Support to MPA management • → increased political support and buy-in of stakeholders (e.g. fishermen, coastal communities) • → Zoning, design of management measures with conservation and socio-economic benefit “win-wins”, creating avenues for financing

3. Biophysical vs monetary valuations • Socio-economic benefits of MPAs can be estimated in biophysical and monetary terms • Monetary evaluation to be used as a complement (not a replacement) of biophysical indicators • Useful to raise awareness about benefits of nature conservation, especially of stakeholders not interested in environmental sustainability • Possible support to compensation and PESschemes • Important to be aware of uncertaintiesand methodologicalchallenges

4. Our report Fisheries/ spillover effect → improved fish size/abundance in nearby fishing grounds Climate change mitigation by carbon capture and storage Opportunities for nature-based tourism andrecreational activities Protection of coastal areas from natural hazards Opportunities for blue-biotech and research activities Broader socio-economic benefits contributing to regional/ local development Non-use values of MPAs

5. Example: climate change mitigation Saltmarshes and seagrasses store high amounts of “blue carbon” They are being degraded at a worrying pace – the degradation of tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses release an average of 0.45 Pg CO2 per year, i.e. about the annual fossil fuel emissions of the UK (Pendleton et al., 2012) MPAs can contribute to protect and improve these ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate mitigation

6. Example: coastal security Seagrass beds, mudflats, saltmarshes and biogenic reeds can stabilise sediments and reduce erosion, thereby mitigating the impact of tidal surges, storms, waves andfloods Will be increasingly important as contribution to climate change adaptation Important benefits to coastal populations → avoid damages to buildings, infrastructure and people

7. Coastal/marine tourism employs over 3.2 M people and generates €183 billion per year in gross value added (half in the Mediterranean) More than 40% of the EU-27 population live in coastal areas → vast recreational benefits for local residents Tourism can have destructive impacts on coastal/marine ecosystems The designation and good management of MPAs can support economic opportunities and long term ecosystem protection Example: tourism/ recreation opportunities

8. The role of MPAs The designation/good management of MPAs can ensure provision of coastal/marine ES in the long term These ES can provide livelihood opportunities and income to different categories of stakeholders Illustrating these benefits will increase stakeholder support and assist MPA management

9. Improving the evidence base Some benefits provided by MPAs are currently more understood and studied than others Important to improve the evidence base and fill information gaps Need to increase investments in research Importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among e.g. biologists, economists, sociologists

10. Three case studies under development • PosidoniaOceanica meadows – the most important carbon sink of the Mediterranean • ColumbretesIslands (Spain) – the first quantification of the net spillover effect • Lyme Bay (UK) – a reserve providing important opportunities for tourism businesses

11. Three cases studies still to choose Options: • Saltmarshes,a natural defence for coastal areas (+ important carbon sinks) • Monetary valuation of three nature reserves in Belgium and the Netherlands (increase in fish stock, carbon storage and recreation/ecotourism) • Monetary valuation of cultural ecosystem service values of UK MPAs (through divers' and anglers' WTP for potential MPAs, combining travel cost and contingent valuation methods) • Economic income from diving and ecotourism of a MPA in Sardinia, Italy (based on travel cost method) • Economic valuation of ES provided by coastal habitats in Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania through a WTP survey • Income generated by southern European MPAs by recreational uses Other ideas from the MEG?

12. (First) Conclusions and future steps • Convincing body of evidence that marine and coastal ecosystems provide wide range of ecosystem services => case for their protection and MPAs • Some benefits currently more understood and studied than others=> need for improving knowledge base • Building on the above, clearly opportunities related to 1) using ES as integral aspects of MPA management and 2) creating opportunities for sustainable blue-green economy and MPAs • Next thing to explore: how to integrate ES into future management of MPAs and a future vision for MPAs within blue green economy. • Ideas welcomed! • Survey FP7 OPERAs: How can the concept of ecosystem services be used in the context of MPAs?

13. Thank you for your attention! Please address any feedback/ ideas/ interesting information you may have to: Daniela Russi drussi@ieep.eu Marianne Kettunen mkettunen@ieep.eu Mia Pantzar mpantzar@ieep.eu