A Cost-evaluation Technique for Restoration of Seagrass and Other Plant Communities

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Coastal habitat loss must be reduced either through conservation or mitigative efforts. Implementation of mitigation depends largely on accurate cost-assessment of the projects that are involved. We centre our discussion here on seagrass transplanting as an exemplary mitigative tool. The technology of restoring seagrass communities has received increasing attention in recent years. However, the methods used have had varying degrees of success, a largely unknown factor being the cost of the technique that is used. In this paper is presented a universal format that includes consideration of the essential factors in our costanalysis, such as planning, planting, and monitoring activities, geographic location, tidal influence, labour, and materials (both expendable and non-expendable). Cost per (successfully established) shoot or seed or fruit is recommended as the best indicator of cost effectiveness for a given technique. Incorporation and presentation of this information is urged in future projects to motivate wider application of seagrass and other essential plantcommunity restoration.