For millennia, coastal and marine ecosystems have adapted and flourished in the Red Sea’s unique environment. Surrounded by deserts on all sides, the Red Sea is subjected to high dust inputs and receives very little freshwater input, and so harbors a high salinity. Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves flourish in this environment and provide socio-economic and environmental benefits to the bordering coastlines and countries. Interestingly, while coral reef ecosystems are currently experiencing rapid decline on a global scale, those in the Red Sea appear to be in relatively better shape. That said, they are certainly not immune to the stressors that cause degradation, such as increasing ocean temperature, acidification and pollution. In many regions, ecosystems are already severely deteriorating and are further threatened by increasing population pressure and large coastal development projects. Degradation of these marine habitats will lead to environmental costs, as well as significant economic losses. Therefore, it will result in a missed opportunity for the bordering countries to develop a sustainable blue economy and integrate innovative nature-based solutions. Recognizing that securing the Red Sea ecosystems’ future must occur in synergy with continued social and economic growth, we developed an action plan for the conservation, restoration, and growth of marine environments of the Red Sea. We then investigated the level of resources for financial and economic investment that may incentivize these activities. This study presents a set of commercially viable financial investment strategies, ecological innovations, and sustainable development opportunities, which can, if implemented strategically, help ensure long-term economic benefits while promoting environmental conservation. We make a case for investing in blue natural capital and propose a strategic development model that relies on maintaining the health of natural ecosystems to safeguard the Red Sea’s sustainable development.

中文翻译：

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投资蓝色自然资本以确保红海生态系统的未来

几千年来，沿海和海洋生态系统在红海独特的环境中适应并蓬勃发展。红海四面被沙漠包围，因此沙尘输入量很大，淡水输入量很少，因此盐度很高。珊瑚礁、海草草甸和红树林在这种环境中蓬勃发展，为毗邻的海岸线和国家提供社会经济和环境效益。有趣的是，虽然珊瑚礁生态系统目前在全球范围内正在经历快速衰退，但红海的生态系统似乎处于相对较好的状态。也就是说，它们当然不能免受导致退化的压力因素的影响，例如海洋温度升高、酸化和污染。在许多地区，生态系统已经严重恶化，并受到日益增加的人口压力和大型沿海开发项目的进一步威胁。这些海洋栖息地的退化将导致环境成本以及重大的经济损失。因此，这将导致周边国家错失发展可持续蓝色经济和整合创新自然解决方案的机会。认识到保护红海生态系统的未来必须与持续的社会和经济增长协同作用，我们制定了一项保护、恢复和发展红海海洋环境的行动计划。然后，我们调查了可能激励这些活动的金融和经济投资的资源水平。本研究提出了一套商业上可行的金融投资战略、生态创新和可持续发展机会，如果战略性地实施，可以帮助确保长期经济效益，同时促进环境保护。我们提出投资蓝色自然资本的案例，提出以维护自然生态系统健康为基础，保障红海可持续发展的战略发展模式。