Valuation of Marine Resources
Current Research
Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services to Community in Kalpitiya
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MIND institute together with the Sustainable Ocean Resources Network (SORN), SOAS University of London and Sri Jayawardanapura University is conducting an economic valuation study in Kalpitiya Peninsula to inform policy for protection of ecosystems in the area.
Traditionally a fishing areas, Kalpitiya peninsula is increasingly affected by the tourism industry – increasing number of tourist hotels (large, small and micro scale), clearing land for commercial uses (mainly hotels (and decreasing yields in some instances), clearing of mangroves, damages to sand dunes, increasing industries such as aquaculture (prawn farming), salt farming (not so much related to tourism), crowded beaches, increasing boat traffic, and coastal development such as reclamation, erosion, accretion and sedimentation etc. are growing in the area. These activities have a variety of impacts, both positive (increased income for locals) and negative (harm to mangroves and other ecosystems).
Watch this space to know more about the research.
