Coastal areas face increasing pressure from urbanisation, erosion, flooding and climate change, and are experiencing unprecedented levels of change and regime shift. These ongoing pressures are resulting in a range of changing conditions, with the potential to impact how our coastal areas are used and experienced by coastal communities and wider society. RESILCOAST highlights the role of Welsh salt marshes in coastal community resilience, recognising these dynamic and diverse environments areas as regions particularly prone to significant shifts and, therefore, changes in their capacity to ongoing delivery of ecosystem services and benefits. As the social component of ecological management comes ever more to the forefront of decision making, it is increasingly important that we build a comprehensive understanding of how coastal environments, like saltmarshes, and their benefits to society, are valued – both economically, and in a non-monetary sense.
Results/Conclusions
Using a saltmarsh ecosystem service framework developed through the project, this paper presents preliminary findings of a national survey (n=1000). Over 50% of respondents felt that saltmarshes are under-valued; a feeling that is perhaps perpetuated by limited consideration of non-monetary values. This work assessed both the wider public views to develop an integrated value for the saltmarshes and their ecosystem services. RESILCOAST will use this understanding of ESs and their value to assess existing governance capacity to respond to change, making recommendations to ensure future policies can react, and continue to support, saltmarshes and wider coastal resilience. This work contributes to the ongoing debate surrounding valuation of ecosystem services, and highlights the integral role that non-monetary values can have in understanding how natural environments are valued by both individuals and communities. Recognition of a more diverse range of value metrics can only result in a more thorough and nuanced appreciation of the value of ecosystem services.