Marine ecosystem services in urban areas: Do the strategic documents of Polish coastal municipalities reflect their importance?

Abstract

Marine ecosystem services (MES) condition the development of coastal urban areas, but their benefits are often taken for granted. The purpose of this study is to test how MES are perceived in the practice of urban planning and long-term management. We searched for MES recognition in 63 strategic documents of the 10 largest Polish seaside towns and cities. The criteria we used in analyzing the documents included (i) the character of references to local seaside conditions, (ii) the priority of local development objectives related to the sea, (iii) references to marine ecosystem services and disservices, (iv) references to trade-offs between ecosystem services, and (v) postulates for environmental protection. Our analysis reveals that MES are acknowledged, but their recognition is partial and limited to the services which are already captured by market mechanisms. Limited identification of MES leads to insufficient discussion of current and future trade-offs, even though the ‘environment or development’ dilemma is commonly emphasized. Low levels of inclusion of MES in the strategic documents of Polish municipalities may be caused by (i) low environmental awareness, (ii) underdeveloped institutions, and (iii) poor implementation of sustainable development principles.