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Some useful indications may be derived from the example of the Marine Protected Area ofaround Cerf Island and in Ste. Anne Marine Park (Integrated Coastal Zone Management inthe Seychelles, C.G. Lundin & O. Linden, 1995, p. 45-46). The coral reefs of Cerf and theisland itself provide a natural barrier to ocean waves towards Victoria and the East Coast ofMahe. If the corals were to die because of sedimentation or pollution from human activities,the reefs would gradually wear away, the shoreline of the islands in the Marine Park woulderode and currents would reach Mahe. Data for 1992 shows that more than 27,000 foreignvisitors spent about SR. 9.0 million in the Ste. Anne Marine National Park and the governmentcollected about SR. 500,000 from entrance fees indicating a rough estimate of visitorsvaluation of the marine park environment. If the visitors to the Marine Park would increase atthe same rate as the number of visitors to the Seychelles (5% per year), this would give afigure for the year 2,000 equal to about 40,000 visitors spending an amount (in constant 1992prices) of SR. 13.3 million (or $2.3 million) and another 132,000 of entrance fees. To avoiddouble-counting, tourist income is excluded counting only the national population. Theentrance fee of $3.3 per person based on 1992 prices may be a conservative indication of thewillingness to pay for recreation, that is the minimum of what the national population wouldalso be willing to pay for visiting and enjoying unpolluted and well-managed coastal recreationareas. Applying this as a minimum measure of the recreation benefit for the expectedpopulation of Beau Vallon for the year 2003 (8,000), the minimum value would be $26,400 peryear. If the amount of $ 3.3 for the year 1992 is increased by 10% a year to reflect theincrease in real income by 2003/4 the value would be in the region of $75,300 per year.Non-use Value6. BiodiversityThe existence value of the environment is a very elusive parameter but one of potentially highvalue. It refers to the value that people themselves estimate for the preservation of theecosystem free of any use for productive activities. It is the value of the ecosystem beingthere as part of the natural heritage. There is certainly no market for the existence of coastaland marine diversity. As it is unwise to ignore this non-use value, estimates are attempted,typically based on Contingent Valuation Methods, that make use of survey results to show theresponses of people to questions referring to their willingness to pay for the conservation ofcoral reefs, excluding production and development considerations. There is no suchinformation for the Seychelles or any other part of the region and it is rare in any case.A recent review of the empirical biodiversity literature stresses the following:• Existence valuations are rare – only one study estimated the existence value of coral reefsites, that of the Great Barrier Reef;• Most valuation studies involve coral reefs are concerned with their recreational and touristuse value;• The most commonly valued harvested product of coral reefs is fisheries, but the naturalsystems underlying the harvest (e.g. reef-fish relationship) are simplified, if not ignored,and• Coastal protection afforded by the coral reef habitat is the only ecological function valued.Two known studies are often quotes. Hundloe 1987 estimated the existence value of coralreef habitat using a contingent valuation method for the value of coral reef sites within theGreat Barrier Reef in Australia calculated at A$45 million a year. For the Galapagos NationalPark, de Groot 1992 estimated the “inspirational” and “spiritual” value of reefs at $0.72 per ha.Cynthia Cartier and Jack Ruitenbeck, in Integrated Coastal Zone Management of Coral Reefsby Kent Gustavson (ed.), World Bank, 2000Final Draft Report – Cost Benefit Case StudiesGPA Strategic Action Plan on Sewage, October, 200053