Cornelia Dean reports on an expert panel's report on coastal erosion (Expert Federal Panel Urges New Look at Land Use Along Coasts in Effort to Reduce Erosion):
The panel was convened by the National Research Council, the research arm of the National Academy of Sciences. Its report, “Mitigating Shore Erosion Along Sheltered Coasts,” was posted yesterday at www.nationalacademies.org.
The article is not surprising, hardending, etc of the coasts messes up coastal and marine resources.
What is surprising is her conclusion:
The authors of the report also confronted one of the thorniest problems for coastal scientists and engineers: determining the dollar value of resources that are destroyed when upland infrastructure — houses or roads or the like — is protected.
“The specific value of habitats is itself poorly defined,” the report says, suggesting it would be a fruitful area of research.
Valuation of these resources has not escaped the attention of economists so I skimmed (and searched the quote above*) over the report and executive summary. Alas, I couldn't find anything specific that might lead Ms. Dean to report that the expert panel mentioned the importance of economic valuation.
I'm hoping at least one comment tells me which page number might be worth another peek.
*Note: I've submitted an error report, maybe that will shake something loose.
