Glossary
Glossary for a Shared Understanding
We use the following terms with SHORE-BET in the manner described below:
- Community benefits - The cumulative dollar value of the benefits (societal welfare) to communities provided by a marsh or living shoreline. These benefits are associated with the following ecosystem services: reduced storm impacts, improved fish habitat, reduction/storage of nutrients, reduction/storage of carbon, and improved recreational fishing.
- Ecosystem services - Direct and indirect benefits to people provided by nature.
- Ecosystem valuation - An economic assessment that assigns a monetary value to an ecosystem service.
- Living shorelines - Nature-based coastal protection approaches that restore or protect tidal marsh habitats, sometimes in combination with built infrastructure (e.g. stone sill, oyster reef structure) placed in front of the marsh as an additional wave break, to reduce erosion and storm damage.
- Tidal marsh - a type of wetland defined by the presence of emergent vegetation types uniquely adapted to regular flooding by tides.