Economic instruments to respond to the multiple values of wetlands

Abstract

Wetlands are some of the most important biodiverse areas in the world, and provide key ecosystem services. A wide range of policy-based instruments need to be increasingly employed to protect them, including regulatory instruments like the designation and management of terrestrial and marine-protected areas; environmental regulation (i.e. regulation of water discharges, regulation of products and spatial planning); property rights, as well as a range of integrated management approaches (Integrated Water Resource Management, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Maritime Spatial Planning); permit or licence decisions on land use changes, water abstraction and discharges; and restoration targets.