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Framing the flow: Innovative Approaches to Understand, Protect and Value Ecosystem Services across Linked Habitats
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"This publication highlights the interconnectivity and linkages between coastal ecosystems (mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses, estuaries, and lagoons) across environmental, economic, social, and management contexts. It presents innovative approaches to better understand, protect and value ecosystems services across linked habitats, informing the trade-off of different land-use management decisions and the effects on healthy systems from drawing on ecosystem services from linked habitats.
Worrying findings are presented on the impacts of rapid natural and human induced change on the health of coastal ecosystems, the implications of these disruptions for ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services. At least 35% of mangroves and 29% of seagrasses have been lost in the last two decades, while coral reefs are estimated to have lost up to 19% of their original area on a global scale. A further 15% of coral reefs are seriously threatened with loss within the next 10-20 years, and 20% are under threat of loss in 20-40 years, with potentially negative impacts on fisheries and food security for vulnerable coastal populations.
Understanding the benefits of maintaining and indeed restoring the flow of ecosystem services across the complete supply chain can result in reducing risk and securing the continued supply of those services. Finally, information on ecosystems services flows can allow planners to make the case for truly integrated management approaches, especially those bridging the divide between terrestrial watershed management, coastal zone management and marine ecosystems-based management, by stressing how an integrated approach can deliver multiple benefi ts to society and the environment. This report presents further evidence of the need to develop appropriate economic and governance frame works that best protect the essential services from natu ral ecosystems that human populations will need for the future."
Achim Steiner
UNEP Executive Director
United Nations Under-Secretary General
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