Loss of ecosystem services and management of degraded coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand

Background/Question/Methods

Coral communities provide various types of economic benefits, particularly reef tourism, recreational fisheries, fisheries production, shoreline protection and natural products. However, coral reef ecosystem services are threatened by several anthropogenic and natural disturbances, especially mass coral mortality caused by severe coral bleaching events in the past three decades. Determining how ecosystem services are linked with biodiversity is needed for examining the consequences of biodiversity loss and for setting objectives and priorities for conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems. Studies on functional redundancy within coral communities, the number of taxonomically distinct species that show similar ecological functions, are very important for understanding the consequences of biodiversity loss. This study aimed to assess coral reef ecosystem services in the Gulf of Thailand with emphasis on linking coral reef conditions with various types of ecosystem services and provide coral reef management strategies.

Results/Conclusions

The coral reefs in Thai waters are categorized into four different groups depending on their threats and type of uses. The coral reef that is in a degraded status and is used for tourism is the priority area for coral reef rehabilitation. The coral reef restoration plan concentrates on using passive restoration in four strategies and fifteen measures, by reducing threats from tourism, water pollution, sedimentation and fisheries. The active coral restoration by numerous asexual and sexual reproduction methods and techniques must be carefully considered prior to applying at appropriate reef sites. The major concerns are simple and cheap restoration methods, community involvement, high tolerant species to bleaching and multi-species transplantation. The future research should cover the aspects on primary productivity in coral reef system, biogeochemical processes related to nutrient cycling, and using coastal ecosystems as carbon stocks known as “Blue Carbon”. Managing coral reefs in the face of climate change is crucial for maintaining their ecosystem services and benefits to coastal communities in the Gulf of Thailand.