Science and management of Southeast Asia’s coral reefs in the new millennium

Abstract

Rampant destruction of coral reefs throughout the later half of the past century threatens Southeast Asia's status as the global coral reef hotspot. Increased awareness in the 1990s of the economic value of coral reefs stimulated management responses, but despite implementation of a variety of management practices, these had limited effect considering the scale and intensity of degradation. This paper examines the state of science and management of the region's coral reefs one decade into the new millennium. Advances in the scientific understanding of coral reef processes are sufficient to support more effective management but if this is not scaled up and strongly implemented, then the region risks losing its rich reef heritage.