Investing in Blue Natural Capital to Secure a Future for the Red Sea Ecosystems
Investing in Blue Natural Capital to Secure a Future for the Red Sea Ecosystems
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DOI：
10.3389/fmars.2020.603722
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发表时间：
2021-01-15
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Aranda, Manuel
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Cziesielski, Maha J.;Duarte, Carlos M.;Aranda, Manuel
数千年来，沿海和海洋生态系统在红海独特的环境中适应并蓬勃发展。红海四面被沙漠包围，受到大量灰尘的影响，很少有淡水输入，因此盐度很高。珊瑚礁、海草草甸和红树林在这种环境中蓬勃发展，为毗邻的海岸线和国家提供了社会经济和环境效益。有趣的是，虽然珊瑚礁生态系统目前正在全球范围内迅速衰退，但红海的珊瑚礁生态系统似乎状况相对较好。尽管如此，它们肯定无法免受导致退化的压力因素的影响，例如海洋温度上升、酸化和污染。在许多区域，生态系统已经严重恶化，并受到日益增加的人口压力和大型沿海开发项目的进一步威胁。这些海洋生境的退化将导致环境代价和重大经济损失。因此，这将导致邻国错失发展可持续蓝色经济和整合创新性自然解决方案的机会。认识到确保红海生态系统的未来必须与持续的社会和经济增长协同进行，我们制定了一项保护、恢复和发展红海海洋环境的行动计划。然后，我们调查了可能激励这些活动的金融和经济投资的资源水平。本研究提出了一套商业上可行的金融投资战略、生态创新和可持续发展机会，如果战略性地实施，有助于确保长期经济效益，同时促进环境保护。我们提出了投资蓝色自然资本的理由，并提出了一个战略发展模式，该模式依赖于维护自然生态系统的健康，以保障红海的可持续发展。
For millennia, coastal and marine ecosystems have adapted and flourished in the Red Sea's unique environment. Surrounded by deserts on all sides, the Red Sea is subjected to high dust inputs and receives very little freshwater input, and so harbors a high salinity. Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves flourish in this environment and provide socio-economic and environmental benefits to the bordering coastlines and countries. Interestingly, while coral reef ecosystems are currently experiencing rapid decline on a global scale, those in the Red Sea appear to be in relatively better shape. That said, they are certainly not immune to the stressors that cause degradation, such as increasing ocean temperature, acidification and pollution. In many regions, ecosystems are already severely deteriorating and are further threatened by increasing population pressure and large coastal development projects. Degradation of these marine habitats will lead to environmental costs, as well as significant economic losses. Therefore, it will result in a missed opportunity for the bordering countries to develop a sustainable blue economy and integrate innovative nature-based solutions. Recognizing that securing the Red Sea ecosystems' future must occur in synergy with continued social and economic growth, we developed an action plan for the conservation, restoration, and growth of marine environments of the Red Sea. We then investigated the level of resources for financial and economic investment that may incentivize these activities. This study presents a set of commercially viable financial investment strategies, ecological innovations, and sustainable development opportunities, which can, if implemented strategically, help ensure long-term economic benefits while promoting environmental conservation. We make a case for investing in blue natural capital and propose a strategic development model that relies on maintaining the health of natural ecosystems to safeguard the Red Sea's sustainable development.