The East Asian Seas region has the richest marine biodiversity in the world. It contains one of the greatest concentrations of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, coastal wetlands and other important habitats. Human activities in the region threaten reef health and other ecosystems and jeopardize the benefits that flow from the services and goods. These threats range from sedimentation from deforestation, agricultural practices and coastal development, pollution, tourism, harvesting of corals for aquarium trade, cement excavation, destructive fishing practices and overfishing, to global issues such as global warming and rise in sea levels.
The East Asian Seas Action Plan envisages implementation of integrated marine and coastal management, including the establishment of a viable network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), in order to conserve biodiversity and maintain productivity. COBSEA strengthens use of ecosystem-based management approaches based on the best available scientific evidence, including MPAs and Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning (MCSP), towards achievement of relevant Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
COBSEA has contributed to the resource base for ecosystem-based marine and coastal planning and management. This includes technical tools, resource guides, trainings well as a network of national institutions and resource persons, such as the working groups on coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, coastal wetlands and fishery refugia. Ongoing work includes advancing MCSP in the region by building capacity and supporting development of a conducive policy environment, carried out in partnership with Blue Solutions Initiative.
