The value of salt marsh as a sea defence

The value of salt marsh as a buffer outside sea walls is appraised. As salt marsh width decreases an almost linear increase in wall height is necessitated until loss of a final thin strip causes an exponential rise in maintenance and construction requirements and costs. A minimum value is placed on salt marsh in its capacity as a sea defence and its use and non-use values are discussed. Except in special circumstances salt marsh has a low capital value, and while sale of land to wildfowling syndicates is found to be the highest direct value, this is far surpassed by the indirect value of savings on both capital and maintenance costs in sea defence terms. Reference is made to the coast of East Anglia in the UK and in particular to that of Essex.