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Applying Geographic Information Systems to ecosystem services valuation and mapping in Trinidad and Tobago

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Abstract

Consideration of the spatial dimension in the provision of ecosystem services is fundamental for the calculation of the economic value of ecosystem services and the distribution across beneficiaries and ecosystems. In the context of Small Island Developing States, the islands of Trinidad and Tobago are characterized by a rich natural capital, which lies at the source of the provision of all ecosystem services. Such natural capital, however, is threatened by a range of anthropogenic pressures. This paper builds upon state-of-the-art benefit transfer techniques and Geographic Information Systems to provide the first maps of the value of three key ecosystem services in Trinidad and Tobago. Result estimates indicate that the mean value of carbon sequestration by terrestrial and coastal ecosystems amounts to 65 US$/ha/year. Mean values for coastal recreation and shoreline coastal protection are estimated in 6468 and 924 US$/ha/year, respectively. We discuss how this spatially explicit valuation exercise may feed into Trinidad and Tobago’s National Spatial Development Plan, thus contributing toward a more sustainable use of the country’s natural capital.

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Acknowledgements

The text and figures in this paper draw on a report produced by the lead author, as part of a consultancy agreement, for the UNEP’s Global Environmental Facility (GEF) funded ‘Project for Ecosystem Services’ (ProEcoServ) implemented by the Department of Life Sciences of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad and Tobago and coordinated by the Ecosystem Services Economics Unit of the UNEP Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI-UNEP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Haifa, 3498838, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel

    Andrea Ghermandi

  2. Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

    John Agard

  3. Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paulo A. L. D. Nunes

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  1. Andrea Ghermandi
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  2. John Agard
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  3. Paulo A. L. D. Nunes
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Correspondence to Andrea Ghermandi.

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Ghermandi, A., Agard, J. & Nunes, P.A.L.D. Applying Geographic Information Systems to ecosystem services valuation and mapping in Trinidad and Tobago. Lett Spat Resour Sci 11, 289–306 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12076-018-0210-9

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