Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is an emerging tool intended to solve a range of ecosystem management inefficiencies, by linking conservation action to payment. Such schemes have not been tested to our knowledge, for coral reef derived coastal protection, which is a key Ecosystem Service (ES) for many nations bordered by tropical coral reefs. Coral health is deteriorating globally, as are their ES and inadequate finance is identified as a cross cutting factor stymieing management action. In this paper, we assessed the feasibility of PES for coastal protection, with a focus on the scientific requirements. Key PES elements related solely to ecological processes were isolated, the role of coral reefs in protecting beaches reviewed and priority management options for improving reef health synthesized. Outputs indicate that there is adequate scientific knowledge to satisfy a PES. While there is limited ability to prove and quantify causality between management actions and ES delivery, PES criteria can be satisfied with the substitution of a management proxy, rather than payments being conditional on ES measurements. Management, both passive and active, would focus on aintaining reefs that already have a protective function and front stable beaches, above a functioning threshold.

生态系统服务付款（PES）是一种新兴工具，旨在通过将保护行动与支付联系起来，解决一系列生态系统管理效率低下的问题。就珊瑚礁衍生的沿海保护而言，此类计划尚未经过测试，这是许多与热带珊瑚礁接壤的国家的关键生态系统服务（ES）。全球范围内的珊瑚健康状况日趋恶化，其ES也在恶化，财务不足被认为是阻碍管理行动的一个贯穿各领域的因素。在本文中，我们重点研究了科学要求，评估了PES在沿海保护中的可行性。隔离了仅与生态过程有关的关键PES要素，综述了珊瑚礁在保护海滩中的作用以及综合了改善珊瑚礁健康的优先管理方案。输出表明有足够的科学知识可以满足PES的要求。尽管证明和量化管理行为与ES交付之间因果关系的能力有限，但可以通过替换管理代理来满足PES标准，而不是以ES度量为条件来支付费用。被动和主动管理都将重点放在已经具有保护功能的珊瑚礁和超过功能阈值的前稳定海滩上。