MARINE ENVIRONMENT CAN AFFECT EAST ASIAN ECONOMY

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- The economic future of East Asia and the
region's ability to overcome poverty are facing serious challenges unless urgent
action is taken to manage the health and wealth of its marine environment, the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its latest report.

The East Asian Seas State of the Marine Environment report stated that the
region's seas faced multiple threats as a result of factors including
insensitive development, pollution, alien invasive species and climate change.

Economically, important coastal habitats and ecosystems are under pressure
with 40 per cent of coral reefs and half of all mangroves having already been
lost, UNEP said in the report released Friday.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, said that with nearly three
quarters of the region's population depending directly or indirectly on coastal
areas, and with 80 per cent of the region's GDP linked to the coastal natural
resources, the time must be right for factoring the marine environment into the
centre of economic planning.

Dr Chou Loke Ming from the National University of Singapore said these ocean
ecosystems were a critical lifeline for the region's economies and people.


UNEP the East Asian Seas are home to nearly 80 percent of global coral
species, over 60 percent of mangrove species, and over 55 percent of sea grass
species.

Furthermore, they accounts for 50 percent of global fisheries production and
80 percent of global aquaculture production.

Annually, coral reefs are estimated to generate US$112.5 billion, mangroves
US$5.1 billion, wetlands US$1.2 billion and sea grass US$86 million.

According to the report, the most exposed areas are deltas and mega-deltas
of China, Vietnam and Thailand, which also stated that sea level rise was
estimated to affect as much as 55 percent of the population in Vietnam, 26
percent in Thailand, 18 percent in the Philippines, and 11 percent in China.

"Governments in the region have taken some actions to deal with these
issues, but it is crucial that they strike a balance between development and the
protection of these coastal resources. Strong political will is needed if the
myriad of problems that plague the region are to be addressed," said UNEP's Dr
Ellik Adler, Coordinator of the Coordinating Body of the Seas of East Asia.

Overall the report recommends a more systematic and integrated approach to
managing coastal and oceanic issues.

-- BERNAMA