Table 1 Environmental Services provided by the coral reef and seagrass meadow Blue Infrastructures
Type of ecosystem service | Description |
|---|---|
Nutrition | Source of production for fishing. If these blue infrastructures ceased to exist, many of the edible species on which the economy of coastal populations worldwide depends would be severely affected |
Materials | For pharmaceutical and construction use |
Improve water quality | Both seagrass beds and coral reefs produce more nutrients and oxygen than might be expected from their volume. For example, some seagrass beds produce between 21 and 37 tons of oxygen per day |
Coastal Erosion Protection | Through the hydrodynamic reduction of the waves, sand banks are formed on the beach and sediments are accumulated |
Biodiversity Maintenance | Coral reefs and seagrass meadows are some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems. For example, while coral reefs cover only 0.1% of the total surface of the oceans, they provide habitats for 25% of marine species |
CO2 Capture | These ecosystems are very important carbon sinks, both for the amount of sequestration in the form of organic matter, and for the duration of the deposits. For example, a Posidonia oceanica bush with a thickness of between 1 and 4 m can store 40 to 160 kg of organic carbon for approximately 6000 years, much better figures than those of a tropical forest |
Existence, Option and Legacy Values | Existence Value is the value that these ecosystems have for people who do not use them directly or indirectly, but who positively value their conservation. Option value refers to the value of keeping open the option of using these ecosystems as a resource at a later date. Legacy value expresses the desire that future generations can continue to enjoy these ecosystems |
Education and Scientific Research | This refers to the characteristics and resources of coral reefs and seagrasses as a source of scientific research, education, or training |
Tourism and recreational activities | Coral reefs and sea meadows constitute a marine green infrastructures of great aesthetic beauty and, therefore, with a high potential for the development of activities related to the enjoyment of nature, making them vital economic elements from the point of view tourism |