Integrating biology and economics in seagrass restoration: How much is enough and why [DRAFT]

Fonseca, Mark; Julius, Brian; Kenworthy, W

Although success criteria for seagrass restoration have been in place for some time, there has been little consistency regarding how much habitat should be restored for every unit area lost (the replacement ratio). Extant success criteria focus on persistence, acreage and habitat quality (shoot density) and those metrics, while conservative, remain largely appropriate for the seagrass ecosystem. Computation of the replacement ratio using economic tools has recently been integrated with seagrass restoration and is based on the intrinsic recovery rate of the injured seagrass beds themselves as compared to the efficacy of the restoration itself. In this application, field surveys of injured seagrass beds in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary were conducted over several years and provide the basis for computing the intrinsic recovery rate and thus, the replacement ratio. This computation is performed using the Habitat Equivalency Analysis (HEA) and determines the lost-on site service pertaining to the biological function of an area as the result of an injury and sets this against the difference between intrinsic recovery and recovery afforded by the restoration. Joining empirical field data with economic theory has produced what we feel is a reasonable means of determining the level of restoration and implicitly, project goals and this has been supported in Federal Court. Having project goals then allows application of the success criteria in a predictable, consistent and fair manner. Abstract provided by author.