investing in natural infrastructure provides multiple benefits to communities
TRANSCRIPT
Investing in natural infrastructure provides multiple benefits to
communities:
Lower Delaware River Basin and Bay
Elizabeth Schuster
Environmental Economist
Delaware River Watershed Forum 2014
Natural infrastructure
CASE STUDY: VALUING THE BENEFITS OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
Ecological restoration and Cape May Point
Cape May Point
Finding the intersection between economics and conservation goals?
Lower Cape May Meadows project completed in 2007
Total flood reduction benefits
$9.6 million over 50 years in damage costs avoided
Economic impact for Cape May County
Economic impact for Cape May County
$313 million = TOTAL
Economic impact for Cape May County
$313 million = TOTAL$200 million = PROJECT IMPACT
$5.5 billion = Tourism in Cape May County
NEXT STEPS AND LESSONS LEARNED
Lessons learned
1. What is the objective of your study?
2. Include economic baseline data
3. Leverage the multiple benefits
Collaboration between conservation and tourism
• NJ tourism industry worth $40 billion
• Tourism industry represents 1 in every 10 jobs in NJ
Opportunities for collaboration around living shorelines
