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Living coastal resources of Southeast Asia: Management through continuing education by institutions of higher learning
Author(s) -
Chou L. M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.3270040208
Subject(s) - natural resource , habitat , natural (archaeology) , population , environmental resource management , geography , business , environmental planning , ecology , economics , sociology , demography , archaeology , biology
Development pressures in Southeast Asia have been increasing rapidly over recent decades, much at the expense of living resources. Living coastal resources play important biological, ecological and economic roles, but such values, particularly the first two, are difficult to quantify in simple cash terms. Development of built‐up infrastructure on the other hand, enables tangible and usually substantial projected economic gains to be calculated, and these often overshadow estimated benefits of natural habitats through traditional use. This issue has to be addressed, and it can be done through continuing education for all sectors of the population. Institutions of higher learning have a great part to play by packaging research information on living coastal resources for different target groups. Increasing scientific investigations have resulted in a vast amount of knowledge and understanding of the importance of these habitats. Further research can proceed along directions aimed at providing data that will enable better and reliable quantification of biological and ecological benefits. Such information, when made widely available to all, will result in a society that is more appreciative and protective of living coastal resources, and also with a greater understanding of their long‐term significance.