Content
Deliverable D4.1 is the Marine Restoration Cost Database, compiled as an Excel spreadsheet. It collates marine ecosystem restoration cost values from past research that can be used for cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit analysis, presenting each study’s findings by marine ecosystem type, value and other study characteristics. For ease of use, cost estimates are reported in 2024 international US Dollars and 2024 Euro per hectare, adjusted from the original studies for exchange rates, inflation and purchasing power parity.
Restoration costs vary widely with ecosystem type, restoration method and location. The data are consistently right-skewed — mean costs are often notably higher than medians — so the median provides a more reliable benchmark for planning and investment. Among ecosystems, cold-water coral restoration is the most expensive per hectare, while mangrove restoration (especially community-driven, labour-intensive projects in Southeast Asia) is among the lowest. Many estimates capture only upfront capital costs, so the figures likely underestimate true full lifecycle costs. This document summarises the database and its cost estimates.