As one of the outputs of Project 3 “Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Values” of GCRF, this report provides an overview of the available evidence for the connections between tropical marine habitats and the provision of ecosystem services. We would like to introduce a Foreword by Aimee Gonzales, Executive Director of Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).   

The importance of marine and coastal ecosystems to the livelihoods of millions of people in Southeast Asia is well described. The ecosystem services concept provides a holistic view of the relationships between the ecosystems and their human users.
However, the links between human well-being and ecosystems need further evidence if the ecosystem services concept is to be used to underpin policy and management.

This report is the result of a thorough assessment of the available scientific literature, as well as regional reports, on marine and coastal habitats and the services they provide in Southeast Asia. It is also informed by local and regional expert opinion from the Philippines, Viet Nam, Malaysia and Indonesia as well as expert input from the UK. The report will be useful to managers, policy makers and communities using these ecosystems.

It highlights the importance of Southeast Asia’s marine and coastal habitats in providing livelihoods through local to global services such as erosion control, maintenance of nursery habitats, food provision and climate regulation. These habitats are also vital for cultural services that provide non-material benefits to people. They contribute to a sense of place, foster social cohesion, create and share knowledge and are essential for human health and well-being.

The report also draws attention to services and habitats that are less well studied and therefore deserve more scientific attention. By providing key evidence for the links between habitats and their provision of services, this report can help shape sustainable management approaches of marine and coastal ecosystems in Southeast Asia and beyond by highlighting the many services they provide. It will also help align their use and management with the PEMSEA goal of fostering and sustaining resilient oceans, coasts, communities and economies.

For more information, please refer to the link: here