The Economic Value of Marine and Coastal Biodiversity to the Maldives economy

Over recent years coastal zones have become the focus of much attention at the global level. Their rich resources mean that they have long been important centres of trade and commerce. A large proportion of the world’s population also live on the coast. Given the importance of coastal and marine areas in both conservation and development terms, there is increasing concern about the effects of environmental degradation, climate change and other human impacts on these precious but threatened ecosystems.