Investing in Blue Natural Capital to Secure a Future for the Red Sea Ecosystems
Type
ArticleAuthors
Cziesielski, Maha Joana
Duarte, Carlos M.

Aalismail, Nojood

Al-Hafedh, Yousef
Anton Gamazo, Andrea

Baalkhuyur, Faiyah
Baker, Andrew C.
Balke, Thorsten
Baums, Iliana B.
Berumen, Michael L.

Chalastani, Vasiliki I.
Cornwell, Brendan
Daffonchio, Daniele

Diele, Karen
Farooq, Ehtesaam
Gattuso, Jean Pierre
He, Song

Lovelock, Catherine E.
Mcleod, Elizabeth
Macreadie, Peter I.
Marba, Nuria
Martin, Cecilia
Muniz Barreto, Marcelle
Kadinijappali, Kirshnakumar P.
Prihartato, Perdana
Rabaoui, Lotfi
Saderne, Vincent
Schmidt-Roach, Sebastian
Suggett, David J.
Sweet, Michael
Statton, John
Teicher, Sam
Trevathan-Tackett, Stacey M.
Joydas, Thadickal V.
Yahya, Razan

Aranda, Manuel

KAUST Department
Marine Science ProgramBiological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division
Red Sea Research Center (RSRC)
Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Bioscience Program
Date
2021-01-15Submitted Date
2020-09-07Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/667289
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
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.Citation
Cziesielski, M. J., Duarte, C. M., Aalismail, N., Al-Hafedh, Y., Anton, A., Baalkhuyur, F., … Aranda, M. (2021). Investing in Blue Natural Capital to Secure a Future for the Red Sea Ecosystems. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7. doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.603722Publisher
Frontiers Media SAJournal
Frontiers in Marine ScienceAdditional Links
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.603722/fullae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3389/fmars.2020.603722
Scopus Count
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