The Socio-Economics of the West, Central and Southern African Coastal Communities

1.1

SustainableDevelopment and theNeed toValue Ecosystems

TheUN’sThreePillarsofSustainableDevelopment

Achieving sustainable development – “development that

meets the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

–

means finding the right balance between the three pillars

of social equity, economic development and environmental

protection.

While socioeconomic equity is one objective in

achieving this balance, sustainable development cannot be

feasible or liveable without also determining the costs and

benefits derived from the enviro-economic and enviro-social

dimensions.

As humans are completely dependent on the

ecosystems that they inhabit for their survival and well-being,

without healthy ecosystems, economic and social progress

cannot meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Recognizing the importance of this three-pillar balance,

world leaders at the United Nations Sustainable

Development Summit 2015 adopted 17 SDGs.

While

SDG 14 – “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas

and marine resources” – is specific to ocean and coastal

ecosystems, these ecosystems also support many of the

other SDGs. For instance, coastal populations’ dependence

on LMEs is directly linked to SDGs pertaining to human

survival, livelihood and well-being: ending poverty (SDG 1),

ending hunger and improving nutrition (SDG 2), ensuring

healthy lives and promoting well-being (SDG 3), ensuring

clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), promoting sustainable

economic growth and employment (SDG 8), and reducing

inequality within and among countries (SDG 10).

Fisheries,

harvestable plants, and the waste treatment, tourism

and recreation sectors are some examples of ocean and

coastal “ecosystem services” that promote these SDGs.

Furthermore, coastal ecosystems consisting of coral reef,

mangroves and seagrasses can provide protection from

storm surges (SDG 9 “Build resilient infrastructure”), thereby

protecting coastal populations (SDG 11: “Make cities and

human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”)

and reducing the impacts of climate change (SDG 13: “[…]

combat climate change”). The oceans also regulate climate

change by absorbing and storing heat and sequestrating

carbon from the atmosphere.

Many women are employed

in the fisheries industry, particularly in the post-harvest

stages, while in rural areas, women often engage in

aquaculture as part of families’ subsistence activities (SDG

5 “Achieve gender equality”). By jointly working to manage

coastal and ocean resources, communities enhance social

relationships and institutions (SDG 16: “Promote peaceful

and inclusive societies for sustainable development”).

Ecosystem Services are a “Flow of Value”

Sustainable development requires that we maintain and

enhance the four types of “capital” upon which people

depend: natural, human, economic and social capital. Efforts

to measure only one or two of the four capital stocks tell only

part of the story, since they are interlinked and constantly

changing. These different forms of capital generate flows

of value, with ecosystem goods and services representing

the flow of value from natural capital to the other capital

stocks (Figure 2). How these flows are reinvested is the key to

meeting the SDGs and growing wealth sustainably.