Project Links Vitality of Coastal Areas with Economic Goals

MacArthur grantee World Resources Institute (WRI) has developed the Coastal Capital project to help governments in the Caribbean understand the economic benefits of environmental protection. The project provides decision makers with information and tools that link the health of coastal ecosystems to economic and social goals. Since 2005, the Institute and its local partners have conducted economic valuation studies of coral reefs and mangroves in Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, Belize, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. The results have been used to identify and build support for policies that help ensure healthy coastal ecosystems and sustainable economies. In partnership with Reef Check — Dominican Republic, WRI recently presented the results of its valuation of the Dominican Republic’s coastal ecosystems, which found that if beaches continue to erode at the current rate, the country’s tourism industry could lose up to $100 million in revenue over the next decade.