Strategies to reverse the decline in valuable and diverse coral reefs, mangroves and fisheries: The bottom of the J-Curve in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia, an economically ‘emerging’ region, contains the world's most outstanding and diverse tropical marine resources. The conservation of this biodiversity is essential both for global ecological health and the economic future of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. However, these resources are now severely threatened and will continue to be degraded from increasing and varied forms of destruction. Although Marine Protected Areas and other strategies have already been developed in the region, the effectiveness of marine resources management remains inconsistent. An analysis of economic, social, education and biological data suggests that this deficiency is linked to the level of economic development, as well as the level of scientific and resource management education and the total amount of marine resources in the country. These conclusions are used to suggest more appropriate strategies for better management of the marine resources in Southeast Asia.