Schep, S.

Since the first sightings of the lionfish in the Caribbean, the local marine ecosystems have experienced severe problems due to predation and competition by this invasive species. Since 2008, the lionfish problem is also present in the coastal ecosystems of the Cayman Islands. In order to manage this ecological threat, The Department of Environment (DOE) of the Cayman Islands requires both comprehensive ecological and economic information. Although ecological research on the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean region is increasing rapidly, socio-economic studies investigating the societal impact of this ecological threat are still rather lacking. This pilot study aims at providing an insight into the potential impacts of lionfish proliferation in the Cayman Islands on the tourism industry by revealing the perception of the lionfish problem by visitors to the Cayman Islands and measure the willingness to pay (WTP) of these tourists for managing this invasive species. These findings provide important information for the final calculation of the overall economic impact of lionfish on the Cayman Islands as well as providing a basis for possible funding schemes for the management of the lionfish problem.

An extensive visitor survey among 326 visitors shows that on average 60% of the respondents are in principle willing to pay (WTP) an environmental fee, managed by a nature organization, which would contribute to management of the lionfish problem. Depending on the valuation method chosen and taking into account the distinct characteristics of stay-over and cruise tourists, the total potential annual contribution of visitors for lionfish management in the Cayman Islands is determined at a minimum of USD8 million and a maximum of USD 26.3 million. From these findings we conclude that the support among visitors to manage the lionfish problem is already substantial but could be further increased by improving communication to visitors about lionfish related issues. 

Fishing provides an important source of income and livelihood on the Caribbean Island of Bonaire, also many people fish for recreational purposes. A large part of the catch is composed of reef-dependent species, which rely on the health and productivity of local coral reefs. To assist decision-makers in understanding and managing these fragile ecosystems contributing to Bonairean well being the economic value of reef-dependent fisheries is determined. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the economic value of the reef fisheries is revealed to help decision makers understand which areas of reef are most economically important from a fisheries perspectives.

By estimating the economic value of the reef fisheries, which consists of both recreational and commercial fishing, the total socio-economic value of reef fishing on Bonaire is estimated. Commercial fishing is valued using the ‘net factor income approach’. The recreational value of the reef fisheries is calculated using both the ‘choice modelling’ and the ‘market valuation’ method. The commercial and recreational values are combined to arrive at a total, annual reef-fisheries value for the Island of Bonaire. This aggregate value is then combined with spatial fisheries production data using ArcGIS to create a fisheries value map of Bonaire.

The reef-related total commercial fisheries are valued at almost $400,000 annually. The recreational fishery value is estimated at an economic value of almost $700,000 per annum. These calculations have been used to create an allocation function, which estimates the spatial distribution of the fisheries value along the coral reefs of Bonaire. This in turn can be used to support long-term decision-making for example regarding specific locations for coastal zone development and its impact on commercial and recreational fisheries. 

Bonairean ecosystems support touristic activities that depend on the quality of the natural environment, such as diving, snorkelling, kayaking, boating, enjoying beaches, and participating in land activities. The tourism sector is an industry with substantial size and financial contribution to the economy of Bonaire. However, the economic value of the contribution of nature to Bonaire’s tourism has never been quantified, nor have the most important aspects of Bonairean nature for tourism been identified. It is essential that the economic value of the ecosystem service to tourism and the dependence of tourism on Bonairean ecosystems while impacting these same ecosystems be determined in order to further assist policy-makers in understanding this crucial relationship and support them in wise long-term decision-making.

To determine the value of Bonairean ecosystems for the tourism industry a survey among tourists visiting Bonaire is conducted. This study estimates the average expenditures of these visitors, as well as their Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) for protection of Bonairean nature. The result of this survey also elucidates tourists’ perceived value of different aspects of Bonairean nature. The socio-economic value of the ecosystem services for tourism is combined with spatial data to determine which ecosystems are the most economically valuable with regards to tourism.

The expenditure by tourists on Bonaire is found to be around $125 million annually. An estimated welfare of around $50 million dollars is contributed by Bonaire’s nature to tourism. Stay-over tourists are found to contribute more to the tourism industry than cruise tourists, and marine ecosystems are found to be more economically significant than terrestrial ecosystems on the island. The high WTP of tourists for additional nature protection in Bonaire provides opportunities for the local government to increase the current user fees of visitors to Bonaire. 

IVM Institute for Environmental Studies 

On the 21th and 22st of January 2015, a 2-day workshop was held on Curacao. The workshop was intended to build knowledge and share experiences between different stakeholders involved in policy, management and/or investments in nature conservation or from the private sector with regard to the economic valuation of nature on Curaçao. The workshop focussed on raising awareness about the mutual interdependency of nature and the economy as a result of socio-economic valuation studies and these studies provide a tool to mainstream nature management within all social, environmental and economic sectors on Curaçao. During the workshop the research steps for a total economic valuation (TEV) study for Curaçao were developed based on various practical exercises. In a TEV study, all the important ecosystems and ecosystem services are investigated.

“Increase the understanding about why a study on the socio-economic value of nature is useful for Curaçao, how to develop such an assessment, and which tools to use” The sub-objectives of the workshop were:

• Training on defining objectives, approaches and scope of economic valuation of ecosystem services based on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)1 .
• Identify and discuss policy issues that should be addressed by a total ecosystem services valuation study.
• Training on the available ecosystem valuation methods and techniques.
• Present experience and knowledge on valuation of ecosystem goods and services studies, the actual influence on nature conservation, management, investments and policies in the Caribbean. Factors that enable the effectiveness of a valuation study will also be discussed.
• Discuss recommendations to implement and communicate the outcome of the potential study to the relevant decision-makers and actors in the private sector.

The idea is to have several theoretical sessions combined with interactive discussions and exercises. Working groups are assigned to develop cases based on identified policy questions to which economic valuation research on Curaçao can be applied. Finally, the participants identify approaches and a strategy to communicate expected results

Healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves are critical to Bonairean society. In the last decades, various local and global developments have resulted in serious threats to these fragile ecosystems of Bonaire, thereby jeopardizing the foundations of the island’s economy. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how nature contributes to Bonaire’s economy and its wellbeing in order to make well-founded decisions when managing the economy and nature of this beautiful tropical island. This research aims to determine the economic value of the main ecosystem services that are provided by the natural resources of Bonaire and their overall importance to society. The challenge of this project is to deliver sound scientific insights that will guide decision-making regarding the protection of Bonaire’s ecosystems and the management of the island’s economy.

By assigning economic values to the main ecosystem services of Bonaire, this research draws attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity and highlights the growing costs of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. The study addresses the most relevant ecosystems and ecosystem services for Bonaire and applies a range of economic valuation and evaluation tools. By surveying over 1,500 persons, including tourists, fishermen, local residents, and citizens of the Netherlands, this study estimated the willingness of individuals to pay for the protection of Bonairean nature, as well as mechanisms (e.g. user fees) through which such payments would be transferred. Furthermore, a scenario analysis is conducted to inform decision makers about the most effective strategies to protect the ecosystems of Bonaire. This study intensively involved stakeholders from the start to finish, which facilitated data collection while simultaneously building capacity in applying the concept of ecosystem services among the target audience.

In total, more than 10 different ecosystem services have been valued in monetary terms. The totaleconomic value (TEV) of the ecosystem services provided by the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Bonaire is $105 million per year. This TEV and its underlying components can be used to build a strategy for effective conservation measures on Bonaire. After extensively analyzing different scenarios for future ecosystem services values one result becomes very clear: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In other words, it is more efficient to prevent extensive environmental damage than trying to revitalize the environment while there are still threats at hand. With the current threats unmanaged, the TEV of Bonairean nature will decrease from $105 million today to around $60 million in ten years time and to less than $40 million in 30 years. The project is well documented and provides several extensive online reports, five easily accessible policy briefs and a beautiful film documentary that translates the scientific results into real life situations on Bonaire.