Latest On The Conservation Gateway

A well-managed and operational Conservation Gateway is in our future! Marketing, Conservation, and Science have partnered on a plan to rebuild the Gateway into the organization’s enterprise content management system (AEM), with a planned launch of a minimal viable product in early FY26. If you’re interested in learning more about the project, reach out to megan.sheehan@tnc.org for more info!

Infographics​|​ Overviews (Science and Mapping) | Policy Briefs | Ecosystems | Ecosystem Services | Resources by Geography


 
 
 

Overviews (Science and Mapping) 


​Infographics


Blue Carbon (pdf)

Mapping Ocean Wealth (pdf)

Fish Production (pdf)

Tourism (pdf)

Coastal Protection​ (pdf)

Policy Briefs

 

Coastal “blue” carbon. A revised guide to supporting coastal wetland programs and projects using climate finance and other financial mechanisms​.Herr, D. T. Agardy, D. Benzaken, F. Hicks, J. Howard, E. Landis, A. Soles and T. Vegh (2015).  Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. ISBN: 978-2-8317-1762-3 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2015.10.en

Is Investing in Ocean Health a Key to Our Urban Future? Damanaki, M. The Cornerstone: The Journal of Susatinable Finance and Banking. (2015)

Attaining Aichi Target 11: How well are marine ecosystem services covered by protected areas? Discussion Paper prepared for the World Parks Congress  Spalding,M., Burke,L., Hutchison,J., zu Ermgassen,P., Thomas,H., Ashpole,J., Balmford, A., Butchart, S., McIvor,A., McOwen, C., McSharry, B., Merriman, J., and T. Spencer (2014)

Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning. Protecting Marine Spaces: Global Targets and Changing Approaches.​ Spalding, M., Meliane, I., Milam., A., Fitzgerald, C., and L.H.Hale (2013)
 
 

Ecosystems

  
Coral Reefs
   
Coral reefs are effective for coastal hazard risk reduction. Ferrario, F., M. W. Beck, C. Storlazzi, F. Micheli, C. Shepard, L. Airoldi. Proc. USA Nat. Acad. of Sci. (2014)
 
Reefs at Risk Revisited. Burke, L., Reytar, K., Spalding, M.D., and A. Perry (2011).
   

Mangroves

The current state of knowledge on mangrove fishery values​. Hutchinson, J., zu Ermgassen P.S.E. and Spalding, M. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (2015)

Building an expert-judgement based model of mangrove fisheries value.​ Hutchinson, J. Philipp D.P., Claussen J.E., Aburto-Oropeza O., Carrasquilla-Henao M., Castellanos-Gallindo G.A., Costa M., Daneshgar P.D., Hartmann H.J., Juanes F., Khan M.N., Knowles L., Knudsen E., Lee S.Y., Murchie K.J., Tiedemann J., zu Ermgassen P.S.E. and Spalding M. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (2015)

The Role of Mangroves in Fisheries Enhancement. Hutchison, J; Spalding, M, and zu Ermgassen, P. The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International. (2014)
   
Mangroves for coastal defense: Guidelines for coastal managers & policy makers. Spalding M, McIvor A, Tonneijck FH, Tol S and van Eijk P. Published by Wetlands International and The Nature Conservancy. (2014)
 
The Response of Mangrove Soil Surface Elevation to Sea Level Rise. McIvor, A.L., Spencer, T., Möller., I and M.D. Spalding. The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International. (2013)
 
Reduction of Wind and Swell Waves by Mangroves. McIvor, A. L., Möller, I., Spencer, T., and Spalding, M. Natural Coastal Protection Series: Report 1: The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International. (2012)
 
Storm Surge Reduction by Mangroves. McIvor, A.L., Spencer, T., Möller, I. and Spalding. M. Natural Coastal Protection Series: Report 2.The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International. (2012)
 
   
Green Payments for Blue Carbon Economic Incentives for Protecting Threatened Coastal Habitats. Murray, B.C., Linwood, P., Jenkins, W.A., & Sifleet, S. Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions Report. (2011).
   

Salt Marshes

The protective role of coastal marshes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Shepard, C. C., Crain, C. M., and Beck, M. W. (2011)
 

Carbon accumulation rates in salt marsh sediments suggest high carbon storage capacity. Ouyang, X., and Lee, S. Y. Biogeosciences Discuss. (2013)

 ​Shellfish Reefs

Setting objectives for oysters habitat restoration using ecosystem services: A manager's guide​.zu Ermgassen, P., Hancock, B., DeAngelis, B., Greene, J., Schuster, E., Spalding, M., Brumbaugh. The Nature Conservation, Arlington, VA. 76 pp (2016).

The history and decline of Ostrea lurida in Willapa Bay, Washington​.​ Blake, B., and zu Ermgassen P.S.E. Journal of Shellfish Research (2015).

Setting guidelines for monitoring and evaluating the performance of oyster habitat restoration projects​. Baggett, L.P., Powers S.P., Brumbaugh R., Coen L., DeAngelis B., Greene J., Hancock B., Morlock S., Allen B., Breitburg D., Bushek D., Grabowski J., Grizzle R., Grosholz T., La Peyre M., Luckenbach M., McGraw K., Piehler M., Westby S.,and P.S.E. zu Ermgassen Restoration Ecology (2015)

Fishery enhancement, coastal protection and water quality services provided by two restored Gulf of Mexico oyster reefs​. Kroeger, T., and Guannel, G. IN Ninan, K. N. (ed.) Valuing Ecosystem Services - Methodological Issues and Case Studies (2014)

Quantifying the loss of a marine ecosystem service: filtration by the Eastern Oyster in US estuaries. Zu Ermgassen, P. S. E., Spalding, M. D., Grizzle, R., and Brumbaugh, R. Estuaries and Coasts (2013)
  
Quantifying the historic contribution of Olympia oysters to filtration in Pacific Coast (USA) estuaries, and the implications for restoration objectives. Zu Ermgassen, P. S. E., Gray, M. W., Langdon, C. J., Spalding, M. D., and R.D. Brumbaugh. Aquatic Ecology. (2013)
 
Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services Provided by Oyster Reefs. Grabowski, J. H., Brumbaugh, R. D., Conrad, R. F., Keeler, A. G., Opaluch, J. J., Peterson, C. H., Piehler, M. F., Powers, S. P., and Smyth, A. R. BioScience. (2012)
 
Oyster reefs as natural breakwaters mitigate shoreline loss and facilitate fisheries. Scyphers, S. B., Powers, S. P., Heck, K. L., and Byron, D. PLoS ONE. (2011)
  
Shellfish Reefs at Risk.​  Beck, M.W., Brumbaugh, R. B., Airoldi, L., Carranza, A., Coen, L.D., Crawford, C., Defeo, O., Graham., J.E., Hancock, B., Kay, M., Lenihan., H., Luckenbach, M.W., Totopova., C.L., and Zhang, G. (2009)
   
  
​Seagrass Beds
 

Quantitative estimate of commercial fish enhancement by seagrass ecosystem in southern Australia. Blandon, A., and Zu Ermgassen, P. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. (2014)

 
The role of coastal plant communities for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Duarte, C. M., Losada, I. J., Hendriks, I. E., Mazarrasa, I., and Marba, N. Nature Climate Change (2013)
 

Pelagic Waters

The High Seas and Us: Understanding the Value of High-Seas Ecosystems. Rogers, A.D., Sumaila, U.R., Hussain, S.S. and Baulcomb, C. Global Ocean Commission Report. (2014)
 
Climate change impacts on the biophysics and economics of world fisheries.  Sumaila U.R., Cheung W.W.L., Lam, V.W.Y., Pauly, D., Herrick S. Nature Climate Change. (2011)
 
Pelagic protected areas: the missing dimension in ocean conservation. Game, E.T., Grantham, H.S.,  Hobday, A.J., Pressey, R.L., Lombard, A.T.,  Beckley, L.E., Gjerde, K., Rodrigo Bustamante, R.,  Possingham, H.P.,  and A. J. Richardson. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. ( 2009)
 
 
Fisheries

​​The current state of knowledge on mangrove fishery values​. Hutchinson, J., zu Ermgassen P.S.E. and Spalding, M. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (2015)

Building an expert-judgement based model of mangrove fisheries value.​ Hutchinson, J. Philipp D.P., Claussen J.E., Aburto-Oropeza O., Carrasquilla-Henao M., Castellanos-Gallindo G.A., Costa M., Daneshgar P.D., Hartmann H.J., Juanes F., Khan M.N., Knowles L., Knudsen E., Lee S.Y., Murchie K.J., Tiedemann J., zu Ermgassen P.S.E. and Spalding M. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (2015)

Quantitative estimate of commercial fish enhancement by seagrass habitat in southern Australia. Blandon, A., and Zu Ermgassen, P. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. (2014)
  
The Role of Mangroves in Fisheries Enhancement. Hutchison, J; Spalding, M, and zu Ermgassen, P. The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International. (2014) 
  
Trends, current understanding and future research priorities for artisanal coral reef fisheries research . Johnson, A. E., Cinner, J. E., Hardt, M. J., Jacquet, J., McClanahan, T. R., and Sanchirico, J. N., Fish and Fisheries (2013)
 
State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2014)
  
Recreation and Tourism

 A global map of coastal recreation values: Results from a spatially explicit meta-analysis. Ghermandi, A., and Nunes, P. A. L. D. Ecological Economics (2013)
  
The Global Economic Impact of Manta Ray Watching Tourism. O’Malley, M. P., Lee-Brooks, K., and Medd, H. B. PLoS ONE (2013)
  
Beach ‘lovers’ and ‘greens’: A worldwide empirical analysis of coastal tourism. Onofri, L., and Nunes, P. A. L. D. Ecological Economics. (2013)
 
Using social media to quantify nature-based tourism and recreation. Wood, S. A., Guerry, A. D., Silver, J. M., and Lacayo, M. Scientific Reports (2013)
 
Socio-economic value and community benefits from shark-diving tourism in Palau: A sustainable use of reef shark populations. Vianna, G. M. S., Meekan, M. G., Pannell, D. J., Marsh, S. P., and Meeuwig, J. J. Biological Conservation (2012)
 
Global shark currency: the distribution, frequency, and economic value of shark ecotourism. Gallagher, A. J., and Hammerschlag, N.  Current Issues in Tourism. (2011)
 
The economic value of Guam’s coral reefs.  Haider, W., Longland, M., Cesar, H., Sablan, J., Shjegstad, S., Beardmore, B., Liu, Y., and Garces, G. O. University of Guam. Thesis (2007)
 
Natural Coastal Protection
 
Mangroves for coastal defense. Guidelines for coastal managers & policy makers.  Spalding M, McIvor A, Tonneijck FH, Tol S and van Eijk P. Published by Wetlands International and The Nature Conservancy. (2014)

Protecting Marine Spaces: Global targets and changing approaches. Spalding, M. D., Meliane, I., Milam, A., Fitzgerald, C., and Hale, L. Z.Ocean Yearbook. (2013).
 
Coasts at Risk: An Assessment of Coastal Risks and the Role of Environmental Solutions. (ed) M. W. Beck. A joint publication of United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Coastal Resources Center (CRC) at the University of Rhode Island. (2014)
 
Carbon Sequestration
 
Coastal Blue Carbon: Methods for assessing carbon stocks and emissions factors in mangroves, tidal salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. Howard, J., Hoyt, S., Isensee, K., Pidgeon, E., Telszewski, M. (eds.). Conservation International, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, International Union for Conservation of Nature. (2014)
 
Predicting global patterns in the carbon storage of mangrove forests. Hutchison, J., Manica, A., Swetnam, R., Balmford, A., and Spalding, M. Conservation Letters. (2013)
 
Carbon accumulation rates in salt marsh sediments suggest high carbon storage capacity. Ouyang, X., and Lee, S. Y. Biogeosciences Discuss. (2013)
 
 

Resources by Geography


U.S. Atlantic Coast
 
 
Seafloor Mapping for Ecosystem Management in the Gulf of Maine. Grabowski, J. H., and T. Hart. American Fisheries Society (2012)
 
Detection of deep water benthic macroalgae using image-based classification techniques on multibeam backscatter at Cashes Ledge, Gulf of Maine, USA. .McGoniglea, C., Grabowski. J., Brown, C., Weber,T., and R. Quinna. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. (2011)
 
Exploring the life-history implications of colour variation in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Sherwood, G. D., and J. H. Grabowski. ICES Journal of Marine Science (2010)
 
Gulf of California
 
Transnational Ecosystem Services: The Potential of Habitat Conservation for Waterfowl Through Recreational Hunting Activities. Rubio-Cisneros, Octavio Aburto-Oropeza , Jason Murray, Charlotte E. Gonzalez-Abraham, Jeremy Jackson & Exequiel Ezcurra (2014)
 
Spatial structure of commercial marine fisheries in Northwest Mexico. Erisman, B. E., Paredes, G. A., Plomozo-Lugo, T., Cota-Nieto, J. J., Hastings, P. A., and Aburto-Oropeza, O. (2011).
 
Large Recovery of Fish Biomass in a No-Take Marine Reserve. Aburto-Oropeza O, Erisman B, Galland GR, Mascaren˜ as-Osorio I, Sala E, et al. (2011)
 
Indonesia
 
Scientific design of a resilient network of marine protected areas. Lesser Sunda Ecoregion, Coral Triangle. Wilson, J., Darmawan, A., Subijanto. J., Green, A., and S. Sheppard. The Nature Conservancy Asia Pacific Marine Program.(2011)
 
Selected Indonesian Fisheries Subsidies Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Policy Coherence and Effectiveness. Ghofar, A., Schorr., D., and A. Halim. The Nature Conservancy – Coral Triangle Center, Indonesia. (2008)
 
Micronesia
 


The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of Palau. Marino, S., Bauman, A., Miles, J., Kitalong, A., Bukurou, A., Mersai, C., Verheij, E., Olkeriil, I.,Basilius, K., Colin, P., Patris, S., Victor, S., Andrew, W. Miles, J., Y Golbuu. NOAA, (2008)
 
The economic value of Guam’s coral reefs.  van Beukering, P., W. Haider, M. Longland, H. Cesar, J. Sablan, S. Shjegstad, B. Beardmore, Y. Liu, and G.O. Garces. Technical Report 116. The Marine Laboratory, Univeristy of Guam. (2007)
 
Caribbean
 
​​
 
​​​​​​​