Economic Contribution Analysis of National Estuarine Research Reserves

Abstract

Increased attention to the value of protected natural areas has led to the proliferation of ecosystem service valuations for coastal habitats. However, these studies do not provide a full representation of the economic value of these habitats. Protected coastal environments, such as the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), add jobs and revenue to their local communities. Institutions such as NERRS provide economic contributions that extend beyond their operational spending and jobs they provide. Spending by reserves and their partners ripples throughout the economy. We performed an economic contribution analysis at four pilot sites using input-output modeling through IMPLAN. Sites contributed millions in revenue and tens to hundreds of jobs in their respective regions. Each of the four sites had a different category of spending that was the largest contributor of revenue and jobs, which is likely due to the community context and location of the reserves. Understanding these contributions is helpful in validating funding for NERRS. Communicating these contributions along with ecosystem service values may increase support from community members who otherwise do not use or rely on NERRS as much as traditional reserve supporters.

Economic Contributions of Visitor Spending in Ocean Recreation in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

“…The USD 1.7 billion in spending from 2.3 million visitors in the FKNMS on ocean-based recreation results in about USD 2 billion in total output that stays in the region. Other MPAs in the U.S. that have fewer total visitors (400,000-1,000,000 visitors) reported an economic contribution in the range of USD 46-57 million [12]. The results from this study therefore highlight the importance of the FKNMS in providing ocean recreation and tourism in the region.…”

“…However, if the interest is determining the economic impact to demonstrate a financial contribution to the local community, economic impact/contribution analysis is more appropriate [10]. Most studies related to coastal areas have focused on valuing ecosystem services using CBA, but there is little evidence that these results are used to inform decision-making processes [11,12]. Contribution analyses are found to be more useful in influencing behaviors of decision makers and stakeholders.…”

“…Contribution analyses are found to be more useful in influencing behaviors of decision makers and stakeholders. Contribution analysis has been found to be a more effective communication of economic value, as it touches on job contributions, which decision makers and stakeholders find to be useful in gaining support for actions protecting these reserves and investing in them [12]. It is important to note the difference between economic contribution and economic impact.…”

“…Economic contribution analyses have been used to examine the economic importance of tourism and visitor spending in state and national parks and outdoor recreation activities [10,[14][15][16][17][18], but few studies have examined the economic contributions or impacts of MPAs and other similar natural areas [12,19,20]. Even fewer studies on actual economic contributions of the national marine sanctuaries are available.…”