The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project

Calculating ecosystem services values Using a rapid assessment protocol developed specifically for Abu Dhabi, the condition of a subsample of habitats within Blue Carbon ecosystems, focusing specifically on seagrass ecosystems, it was possible to identify areas of highest potential value (in terms of carbon being sequestered and other valuable benefits being provided as well). As Figure 8 shows, values for ecosystem services can be derived that reflect either real or hypothetical value. In Abu Dhabi, as the number of valuation studies undertaken to date is limited, discussion of the value of Blue Carbon co-benefits is largely, at present, hypothetical.

Given that each Blue Carbon ecosystem and the ecological community it supports provides different services, the most valuable areas will be those that have a combination or mosaic of these ecosystems, especially those in relatively close proximity to assets of value. Five areas within Abu Dhabi possibly stand out in this regard. This is illustrated in Figure 9. One additional and critically important consideration is that these ecosystems and the services they generate cannot be viewed in isolation (Figure 10). The delivery of goods and services from natural systems is dependent not only

Figure 8 Valuation framework ( adapted from Spangenberg and Settele, 2010 )

Ecosystem services

Material/use values

Non-material/non-use values

Direct use values

Indirect use values

Revealed preferences

Stated preferences

Contingent valuation

Contingent behaviour choice modelling

Real

Hypothetical

Real

Hypothetical

Travel costs

Willingnes to pay

Avoided costs

Market prices

Option value

Hedonic pricing

Willingnes to accept

Damage costs

Repair costs

Mitigation/ Restoration costs

Payment for ecosystem services

Replacement costs

Adapted from: Spangenberg and Settele, 2010.

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