UNISDR/UNDP (2012). Review Paper – Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Management in South Asia. Inputs of the South Asian Consultative Workshop on “ Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation into Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management of Coastal and Marine Areas in South Asia” held in New Delhi on 6 and 7 March 2012. New Delhi: UNDP. 173 pages.

Five countries in South Asia – Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have extensive mangroves, coral reefs, and sand dunes that harbor some of the world’s most significant coastal and marine biodiversity. The coastal sub-region of South Asia is home to about 400 million people, many are poor and vulnerable. The sub-region also faces increasing occurrence of natural hazards such as cyclones, floods and tidal surges; rapid changes in land-use; and climate variability. Integrated management of coastal and marine environment is crucial to ensure the long-term sustainability of this sub-region. This publication provides the context of coastal and marine ecosystem management in South Asia and along with a toolkit, are meant to promote ecosystem approach for effective disaster and climate risk management by strengthening the inter-linkages between Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and coastal ecosystems management. and is built on UNDP’s new Biodiversity and Ecosystems Global Framework, titled The Future We Want: Biodiversity and Ecosystems