Valuing ecosystem service losses from coastal erosion using a benefits transfer approach: a case study for the Central Portuguese coast

The central Portuguese coast is recognized as the region most vulnerable to coastal erosion in Portugal, with the actual loss of territory exceeding the forecasts used in the 2010-2050 Coastal Zone Management Plan for the Ovar-Marinha sector. Coastal zones do, however, host a wide variety of ecosystems that provide associated services which, as a result, may be lost due to coastal erosion. This study presents the first step in the development of the COastal Protection Investment Support Tool (COPIST), which aids coastal zone managers identifying cost-effective locations for coastal protection works. The objective of this paper is to assess likely ecosystem service value losses resulting from coastal erosion patterns, thereby using a benefits transfer approach in combination with coastal erosion projections. For a case study of the central Portuguese coast it is shown that the total value of coastal ecosystem services equals about (sic)193 million per year, while expected ecosystem service value losses from coastal erosion amount to over (sic)45 million per year by 2058 (i.e. 25% of the concerned coastal ecosystem service values). Given the value of coastal ecosystem services it may, therefore, be worthwhile to protect not only urban territory but also natural and altered coastal ecosystems.