Valuing mangrove in South Thailand
Valuing mangrove conservation in Southern Thailand Contemporary Economic Policy; Huntington Beach; Apr 2001; Suthawan Sathirathai; Edward B Barbier; Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Start Page: 109-122 ISSN: 10743529 Subject Terms: Wetlands Environmental protection Commercialization Economic theory Economic models Shellfish Studies Benefit cost analysis Classification Codes: 1540: Pollution control 9179: Asia & the Pacific 1130: Economic theory 9130: Experimental/theoretical Geographic Names: Thailand Abstract: This article examines whether or not the full conversion of mangroves into commercial shrimp farms is worthwhile once the key environmental impacts are taken into account. The estimated economic value of mangrove forests to a local community is in the range of $27,264-$35,921 per hectare. The results indicate that, although shrimp farming creates enormous private benefits, it is not so economically viable once the externalities generated by mangrove destruction and water pollution are included. ... In Thailand, the main cause of mangrove conversion is shrimp farming, which is a major source of export income for the country.