Table 2.

A summary of ecosystems/habitats, values, and threats of the intertidal zone in the WIO region identified by experts (interview forms and workshop). Listed in order of most mentioned in the interview form

Ecosystems/habitats	Values	Threats
Mangrove Seagrass Coral reef Rocky shores/Cliffs Sand/Beach Reef flat Mudflats Estuaries Mollusk banks Tidal pool	Productive areas High food production/provider Highly productive area Protection of coastline Protection for land runoff Protection from waves, storms, etc. Protection against erosion Accessible for seaweed farming Sediment stabilization Fresh water retention Recreational area Unique biodiversity High biodiversity in small area Highly adaptive environment Attracts tourism Esthetical area A link in nature Carbon sink capacity Buffer zone Infrastructure, e.g., ports Supports activities to generate money Cultural value Boat mooring area Water nutrient regulation Providing building material, e.g., shells, sand Area for mariculture Hatching grounds Feeding grounds Nursing grounds Upstream chemical affluent sieve Nice climate, e.g., sea breeze	Pollution Over harvesting Habitat destruction Climate change Overfishing Erosion Constructions Destructive practice Eutrophication Agriculture Increasing human population Sedimentation Mariculture Tourism Development Oil spill Invasive species Mining Mismanagement Oil and gas exploitation Poverty Storm