Biodiversity Maldives the Economic Case for Biodiversity
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Valuing Valuing Biodiversity The economic case for biodiversity conservation in the Biodiversity Maldives The economic case for biodiversity Atoll Ecosystem Conservation Project conservation in the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment Government of Maldives 3rd Floor, Fen Building Malé Maldives Maldives Tel: + 960 332 4861 Fax: + 960 332 2286 Email: [email protected] Web: www.biodiversity.mv www.environment.gov.mv Report produced for Report produced for Atoll Ecosystem Conservation (AEC) Project by IUCN Atoll Ecosystem Conservation (AEC) Project by IUCN Valuing Biodiversity The economic case for biodiversity conservation in the Maldives Report produced for Atoll Ecosystem Conservation (AEC) Project by IUCN Valuing Biodiversity The economic case for biodiversity conservation in the Maldives Lucy Emerton, Saima Baig, Marie Saleem April 2009 i The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN or UNDP Maldives concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN or UNDP Maldives. This publication been made possible by funding through the AEC Project. Published by: Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group Asia, IUCN, International Union for the Conservation of Nature for the AEC Project, Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment, Government of Maldives. Copyright: © 2009, Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment, Government of Maldives. Citation: Emerton L., Baig S., and Saleem M. (2009) Valuing Biodiversity. The economic case for biodiversity conservation in the Maldives. AEC Project, Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment, Government of Maldives and UNDP Maldives. Lucy Emerton, Independent Consultant Environmental Economics. [email protected]; Saima Baig, Consultant Environmental [email protected]; Marie Saleem, Environmental Consultant. [email protected] Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. ISBN: 978-955-8177-94-5 Photographs: All underwater photographs courtesy of Aqua Dreams Imaging All other photographs courtesy of Mohamed Inaz, Abdulla Mohamed Didi, Affan Abdulla Didi, Dr. Mike Moser and Saima Baig Produced by: Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group, IUCN Asia, Colombo Sri Lanka. Layout & Printed by: Karunaratne & Sons (Pvt) Ltd., 67, UDA Industrial Estate, Katuwana Road, Homagama, Sri Lanka. [email protected] Available from: Atoll Ecosystem Conservation Project Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment, Government of Maldives, 3rd Floor, Fen Building, Ameenee Magu, Malé. Tel: ++960 332l4861 Fax: ++960 3322286 Email: [email protected] www.environment.gov.mv ii Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables ..................................................................................................................................... iv List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................... vi Foreword by the President .................................................................................................................................... vii Message by the Minister for Housing, Transport and Environment ..................................................................... viii Statement by the UNDP Resident Representative ................................................................................................ ix Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................ x Summary and conclusions .................................................................................................................................... xi 1. Background to the report ................................................................................................................................... 1 The Atoll Ecosystem Conservation (AEC) Project .............................................................................................. 1 How the report is laid out ................................................................................................................................... 1 Information used to compile the report .............................................................................................................. 2 Limitations of the Study ..................................................................................................................................... 3 2. The context: A snapshot of the Maldives biodiversity and economy ................................................................ 5 A look at key stakeholders ................................................................................................................................. 9 3. How marine and coastal biodiversity are linked to economic and human wellbeing ...................................... 12 4. Biodiversity in the Maldives national economy ................................................................................................ 15 Direct Values: The tourism sector .................................................................................................................... 15 Direct Values: The fisheries sector ................................................................................................................... 17 Biodiversity and the national economy: a summary of values ......................................................................... 18 Indirect and Existence Values: Maldivian willingness to pay for biodiversity conservation ............................. 21 5. Biodiversity in the Baa Atoll economy .............................................................................................................. 25 Direct Biodiversity values at the household level ............................................................................................. 26 Biodiversity values for private sector tourism operators .................................................................................. 30 Biodiversity and the Baa Atoll economy: a summary of direct values ............................................................. 30 6. Financing biodiversity conservation in the Maldives ........................................................................................ 32 The current status of biodiversity funding ........................................................................................................ 32 Tools for improving the financial sustainability of marine and coastal biodiversity conservation ................... 33 7. Economic incentives to conserve biodiversity in the Maldives ........................................................................ 36 How existing economic and environmental policies influence biodiversity ..................................................... 36 Economic instruments that can act as incentives for biodiversity conservation ............................................. 40 Data annex ........................................................................................................................................................... 42 Biodiversity and the national economy ............................................................................................................ 42 Biodiversity and the Baa Atoll economy .......................................................................................................... 48 Biodiversity in Baa Atoll household livelihoods ................................................................................................ 50 Baa Atoll tourist operations .............................................................................................................................. 57 Government and donor funding to biodiversity ............................................................................................... 57 Willingness to pay for biodiversity conservation .............................................................................................. 59 References and notes .......................................................................................................................................... 62 iii List of Figures and Tables Figure 1: Map of the Maldives ............................................................................................................................. 4 Figure 2: Map of Marine Protected Areas in the Maldives ................................................................................... 8 Figure 3: The links between biodiversity and ecosystem services, human wellbeing and economic development indicators in the Maldives ............................................................................. 13 Figure 4: Contribution of biodiversity to key Maldives national economic indicators, 2006 .............................. 18 Figure 5: Willingness of Maldivians to contribute to biodiversity conservation .................................................