Economic Valuation of Mangroves and a Linear Mixed Model-Assisted Framework for Identifying Its Main Drivers: A Case Study in Benin

Mangroves are brackish wetland ecosystems found in tropical areas. They are highly productive ecosystems that contribute to the economic empowerment of local communities. Proper estimation of their monetary value and the extent of their contribution to rural households' income, although challenging, is paramount for sustainable management decisions. This study aimed to estimate the total economic wealth earned from mangrove ecosystems in Benin. Specifically, the study assessed the diversity of ecosystem services (ESs) provided by mangroves and the contribution of ESs to the total annual economic value of mangroves, and it identified socio-demographic drivers of the total economic value at the individual informant level. In total, 298 informants from 15 villages were interviewed to determine the diversity of mangrove ESs. The ESs were then gathered per category. Household-level economic values of mangroves, economic values of mangroves per ES category, and total economic value were estimated by combining diverse approaches. The contribution of each category of ES to the total economic value (TEV) was determined. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to describe the relationships between the economic value of categories of ESs. A Linear Mixed Effect Model (LMEM) was used to determine valid socio-demographic drivers of the TEV. Twenty-nine ESs were identified, with regulation and recreation services being the best contributors to annual TEV, which was estimated at USD 1.29 billion (USD 195,223.69/hectare). Stakeholdership followed by household size are the main socio-demographic drivers of TEV. The identified ESs and their estimated economic value can be incorporated into policy briefs and technical sheets to (i) promote ESs for the optimisation of TEV and (ii) raise awareness and funding for the conservation and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems.