Harmonizing biodiversity, environment, and economy: A coordinative framework for aquatic conservation

Introduction

Aquatic ecosystems sustain planetary health and human prosperity by providing fisheries, water purification, and “blue carbon” sinks that mitigate climate change.¹ Yet, habitat loss, pollution, chemical contaminants, and invasive species are driving rapid degradation, threatening biodiversity hotspots and dependent economies. A major gap is the absence of tools to quantify nonlinear feedback and threshold linking biodiversity recovery (Bio), environmental remediation (Env), and economic returns (Econ). Current policies often treat these as competing trade-offs, overlooking their synergies.² This undermines protection efforts and can trigger ecological cascades. For instance, introducing exotic species to boost fisheries has often harmed native biodiversity and long-term food security.³ Without harmonizing these pillars, conservation becomes reactive and inefficient.

Biodiversity-environment-economy framework

The Biodiversity-Environment-Economy (BEE) framework harmonizes ecological integrity (Bio), environmental resource stewardship (Env), and inclusive prosperity (Econ) into a self-reinforcing system. Unlike the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) or Nature-based Solutions (NbS), BEE embeds measurable feedback loops so that each pillar must fuel the next (Figure 1):

Figure 1.

The concept of biodiversity-environment-economy framework for aquatic ecological conservation

A self-harmonizing system linking biodiversity, environmental processes, and economic incentives into a continuous, reinforcing cycle (data source: http://u5a.cn/z2mst, https://doi.org/10.19386/j.cnki.jxnyxb.2008.02.034, ISBN: 7541607673, https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2018.00614, https://doi.org/10.11813/j.issn.0254-5853.2013.4.0267, http://u5a.cn/YKJQK, https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.064).

Biodiversity (Bio) supports resilience through genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity, from plankton driving nutrient cycles to keystone fish shaping habitats. Wetlands can purify up to 90% of agricultural nitrate while storing carbon; submerged macrophytes (e.g., Vallisneria natans (Lour.) H. Hara) reduce algal blooms and provide fish refuge. These functions are easily disrupted by overfishing, invasives, and habitat loss. Restoring native species and controlling exotic are critical to climate adaptation.

Environment (Env) targets pollution control, habitat restoration, and climate adaptation. Measures include “sponge watershed” designs, constructed wetlands treat wastewater while supporting biodiversity. Innovative biomass management, such as targeted fishery harvesting, can remove excess nutrients to improve water quality. Maintaining stable physicochemical conditions such as balanced pH, oxygen levels, and sediment integrity—is essential for preserving ecosystem functions across trophic levels.

Economy (Econ) redefines prosperity with ecological thresholds. Regenerative aquaculture (e.g., rice-fish farming systems), circular value chains (e.g., algae-to-fertilizer), and biodiversity-positive financing mechanisms (e.g., green bonds, eco-insurance) turn conservation into economic opportunities. True-cost accounting ensures that economic activities reinforce ecosystem health.

Operationalizing reciprocity: From concept to engine

The core of the BEE framework is a cycle of interactions among biodiversity, environment, and economy. These reciprocal pathways transform into a dynamic operational engine in which biodiversity supports economic returns by enabling sustainable harvests, certified ecotourism, and bioprospecting (Bio→Econ); conservation-aligned revenues, such as those from blue bonds or eco-certification premiums, are reinvested in restoration and governance (Econ→Bio); keystone species and intact ecosystems enhance nutrient cycling, water purification, and hydrological regulation, thereby maintaining environmental stability (Bio→Env); and healthy ecosystems, in turn, sustain resource productivity within ecological thresholds, supporting industries and livelihoods over the long term (Env→Econ).

Together, these links form a self-reinforcing engine: biodiversity drives immediate prosperity (Bio→Econ) by providing goods and services, environmental integrity sustains productivity and limits risks (Env→Econ), and economic profits feed back into biodiversity conservation and restoration (Econ→Bio). Each phase of the cycle seeds the next, creating a loop of persistent resilience.

Advantages of the BEE framework

The BEE framework transforms conservation from a succession of isolated, grant-dependent projects into a self-sustaining system. Traditional models often treat biodiversity protection and pollution control as public costs requiring continuous subsidies. In contrast, BEE unlocks the hidden economic value of ecosystem functions, converting them into investable natural capital. For example, functioning wetlands can be valued for flood protection and carbon storage, attracting insurance and investment. Biodiverse systems optimize natural processes—stabilizing nutrient cycles, regulating flows, and buffering disturbances—which inherently strengthens ecosystem resilience. This reinforced environmental integrity, in turn, enables industries to operate within ecological ceilings and maintain productivity (Env→Econ). Importantly, revenue generated by productive ecosystems (through mechanisms like sustainable resource fees) is channeled back into conservation efforts (Econ→Bio), closing the loop. Ultimately, BEE transcends the common “funding-effectiveness trap” in which short-term grants produce only ephemeral gains. It converts ecological functions into enduring financial incentives. In essence, BEE institutionalizes a regenerative feedback loop: ecological gains translate into economic insurance, economic gains into conservation investments, and conservation outcomes into the biological foundation for future resilience. This represents a transformative shift toward long-term stewardship of aquatic resources.

Application of the BEE framework

The BEE framework could turn aquatic restoration into sustainable development, especially in freshwater systems and aquaculture^4,5. Typically, in Fuxian Lake (Yunnan, China), reviving the endangered Kanglang Fish (Anabarilius grahami) has demonstrated this synergy. Protected spawning habitats reduced invasive species pressure and improved water clarity (Env). At the same time, sustainable catch quotas and ecotourism centered on the species have generated new income for local communities (Econ). In effect, restoring this native species boosted biodiversity (Bio), which enhanced ecosystem health (Env) and created livelihoods (Econ). The profits from tourism and sustainable fishing are then available to fund further lake conservation and management (closing the Econ→Bio loop). By certifying fish products and developing niche markets, they support profitable activities, and those profits are reinvested in conservation. Thus, such restoration projects become synergistic systems in which biodiversity enhancement drives prosperity, and that prosperity sustains ongoing ecosystem stewardship.

Challenges and opportunities

Implementation faces intertwined ecological and social challenges: transboundary water pollution, short-term economic pressures, weak enforcement, and climate change. Without solutions, BEE risks remaining an aspirational vision. Opportunities include blue carbon markets, such as Indonesia’s mangrove restoration bonds, which provide funding for habitat rehabilitation that boosts biodiversity while generating carbon credits and ecotourism revenue. Advances in aquatech (e.g., AI-driven satellite monitoring by Global Fishing Watch) enable real-time tracking of water quality and illegal fishing activity, empowering stakeholders to earn sustainability premiums on certified seafood products. Grassroots circular enterprises are turning local environmental problems into assets: Bangladesh’s floating gardens made of invasive water hyacinth and Ghana’s fisher cooperatives that recycle plastic waste both create income while restoring native habitats. These models prove ecological health and prosperity can reinforce each other.

Summary and perspectives

The BEE framework aligns biodiversity recovery, environmental resilience, and economic development in a self-reinforcing system. It illustrates how ecological integrity can drive sustainable prosperity and how that profit can be reinvested to regenerate nature, making conservation a source of opportunity rather than a cost. To realize this potential, BEE principles must be embedded in policy and practice. This requires adaptive governance that spans local watersheds to international basins, integrated planning for national blue economies, and community-led initiatives.

Future research should quantify nonlinear Bio–Env–Econ interactions to identify tipping points and optimal strategies. Innovations in ecological economics, finance, and technology—along with interdisciplinary collaboration are essential. By institutionalizing this holistic approach, we can secure not only healthier aquatic ecosystems but also nature-based economic foundations. Urgent implementation of the BEE framework is therefore critical to harmonize ecological health and sustainable prosperity for the future.

Funding and acknowledgments

This work was supported by Yunnan Provincial projects (202449CE340003, 202401AS070119, 202503AP140017, 202505AO120004, 202405AF140006), National Natural Science Foundation of China (42177062), National Key R&D Program of China (2023YFF0807203). XK was supported by the “Hundred People Program“ of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Declaration of interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Published Online: August 7, 2025