System of Environmental Economics Accounting (SEEA) - coastal and marine ecosystem economic accounting in Karnataka state, India

Abstract

Coastal and marine ecosystems are important natural environments producing valuable goods and services that are essential for human well-being. System of Environmental Economics Accounting (SEEA) Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (EEA) enlightens the relationship between ecosystem function, human dependency, and economics. Economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services that contribute to welfare economics shall create awareness about the environmental benefits, and motivate public participation in their conservation, human well-being, equity, and sustainable management. The SEEA-EEA framework supports continuous monitoring of ecosystem conditions, changes, and supply of goods and services, which supports decision-making on sustainable management of the natural environment and National Natural Resource Accounting. Six coastal ecosystems and habitats such as mangroves, salt marshes, sand dunes, mudflats, corals, and Nesting Grounds of Birds (NGB) are distributed in the coastal stretches of Karnataka State of India. Application SEEA-EEA framework results in monetary benefits from the 6 coastal ecosystems of Karnataka has been estimated for USD 1,64,12,630 /yr.