Ecosystem services provided by nature are a hugely under-rated asset. Coastal ecosystems in particular provide a wide range of benefits for our planet and humankind – natural capital – which remain undervalued. Seagrass meadows, for example, are a more powerful carbon sink than terrestrial forests. Mangroves and oyster beds are sources of food and fuel and act as natural buffers against storm surges and cyclones, which are becoming fiercer with climate change. Coral reefs are the most productive habitat in the marine realm, supporting more than 25% of all marine species,1 and also sustain many jobs in tourism.

This report centres on the benefits of coastal regeneration for countries in Africa, East Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). All three regions have large coastal areas that support many livelihoods but are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.