Valeur économique totale des récifs coralliens, mangroves et herbiers de la Martinique

• Published in: Etudes caribéennes Vol. 15; no. 15
• Main Authors: Failler, Pierre, Pètre, Élise, Maréchal, Jean-Philippe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université des Antilles 01-04-2010
• Subjects: coral reef; mangrove; sea grass; total economic value
• ISSN: 1779-0980; 1961-859X
• DOI: 10.4000/etudescaribeennes.4410

Martinique possesses 55 km2 of coral reefs, 50 of sea grass and 20 of mangroves. These three ecosystems produce services for a value estimated at 250 millions € per year. About 60% of this value originates from directs uses such as recreational activities (diving, excursions, beach activities, etc.) induce by tourism and fishery. Ecosystem services (indirect uses) such as coastal protection, carbon sequestration, biomass production and water purification are significant since their sum value reaches annually 94 millions € (38% of the total economic value). Non-use value links to the improvement of the health of coastal ecosystem is estimated to 10 millions € per year. At the ecosystem level, sea grass and mangrove contribute the more (per km2) to the wealth creation (respectively 2,16 millions €/km2, 1,87 million €/km2 against 1,78 million €/km2 for the reefs). They need therefore to benefit from protection and management measures in the same magnitude than the reefs already received.