Perceptions of coastal vegetated ecosystems: A systematic review across geographical and sectoral dimensions

Coastal vegetated ecosystems such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal marshes provide a wide array of ecosystem services. They also play a vital role in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. However, they are among the most threatened ecosystems globally. This study addresses a key knowledge gap by conducting a systematic review of academic literature on sectoral perceptions of these ecosystems. Through content analysis, we identified common research themes across regions and examined how members of the public, private, and civil society sectors perceive coastal vegetated ecosystems. The results reveal regional differences: Asian countries tend to emphasize utilization and economic benefits, while North America and Europe focus more on conservation and management. Several studies explored perceptions of climate change mitigation. Our findings highlight gaps in perception between the private and government agencies. Understanding these diverse sectoral perspectives can inform policy interventions to enhance conservation efforts and strengthen governance strategies.