Procedure for Determination of National and Regional Economic Values for Ecotone Goods and Services, and Total Economic Values of Coastal Habitats

During the initial project development phase from 1996 to 1999, a framework Strategic Action Programme (SAP) was developed that not only formed the basis for the GEF approval of the project but was also somewhat innovative in including a cost benefit analysis of the benefits of action compared with non-action (UNEP, 1999). The challenge facing the SCS project in 1999 was that the only "ecosystem values" readily available were those of Costanza et al. (1997) that were based on global data and have subsequently been challenged on both economic and scientific grounds. The Project Steering Committee, composed solely of participating government representatives, in approving the draft SAP and the SCS GEF Project, insisted not only that the project activities include the revision of the SAP but also the determination of regionally applicable economic values for environmental goods and services.

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