A tool for use in making land management decisions involving tidal Marshland

Abstract

This paper outlines a rationale and technique for putting a cash value on the ecological values of a tidal marsh. The summation of calculated values for individual components of the system approaches a total “life support”; value based on the primary productivity of the marsh. Using this value, an analysis is made of the cost of highway construction through coastal marshes which takes into consideration the marshland destroyed. The analysis suggests that, except for cases of very shallow spoil removal, bridging is cheaper and ecologically preferable to filled roadway construction.