NatureScot Research Report 1071 - Feasibility study for a Marine Natural Capital Asset Index for Scotland

NatureScot has recently developed an indicator to demonstrate the potential of the terrestrial environment in Scotland to provide benefits to people in Scotland and how this changes over time. Unfortunately, whilst this index was being developed the understanding of how the marine environment contributes to wellbeing wasn't well understood and data was insufficient. Advances in monitoring and understanding of the benefits attained from the marine environment meant that a marine version of this index may now be possible.

This report shows a marine natural capital asset index is possible but data and indicators may not be quite developed enough for it to be immediately feasible but work can be done to work towards creating one. A coastal and intertidal index could be an achievable intermediate target.

Pages: 104
Published: 2019

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