Mangroves in Ecuador: An application and comparison of ecosystem service models

Mangroves provide an abundant supply of ecosystem services such as coastal protection, fish nursery, recreation, and carbon sequestration. After a severe loss of mangroves predominately due to shrimp farming from 1969 to 2000, Ecuador realized the importance of mangroves and their related ecosystem services. In response, the government’s interest grew to understand ecosystem services valuation (ESV) models that provide robust valuation for the ecosystem services(ES). Working with the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF), this report identified and evaluated applicable ESV models, valued and mapped the ecosystem services values of Ecuadorian mangrove with ESV models. This report aims to calculate the value of ecosystem services of mangroves with the existing modeling tools. The following models were initially considered: InVEST, AIRES, MIMES, Co$ting Nature, EcoServ, LUCI, and SolVES. Each model is different, and therefore likely to generate a different valuation of ecosystem services for the same area. In addition, the report compared the variance within models for four different scenarios: status-quo, lose-all, reforestation, full-recovery. Results include both numerical information and highlight the usefulness of each different modeling tool. Based on results and analyses, suggestions are made on suitable ESV models for mangrove ecosystems, and decision support information are provided to Socio Manglar program of Ministry of Environment of Ecuador.