The role of economic and ecosystem change on mental wellbeing: A case study of the Tân Hiêp island commune within Vietnam's Cù Lao Chàm UNESCO biosphere reserve

Abstract

This paper explores the complex relationships between changes in the state of a coral reef, rapid economic growth, and mental wellbeing for residents of Tân Hiệp commune (Vietnam). With its designation as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve status 10 years previously, the Tân Hiệp coral reef offers an important example of an ecosystem that remains central to the coastal community, but whose associated ecosystem services have largely transferred from provisioning (fishing) to cultural (tourism). Using the ‘ecosystems enriched’ Driver, Pressure, State, Exposure, Effect, Action framework (eDPSEEA), to help develop a theoretical model of the relationships between changes to the coral ecosystem, it's capacity to provide ecosystem services and the impacts on human wellbeing using the Cù Lao Chàm UNESCO biosphere reserve as a case study site. Mediation analysis found that when examined through the pathways of the eDPSEEA framework, the social and environmental pressures associated with the rapid economic development of the island over the last 10 years have a significant negative association with resident mental wellbeing. Using the eDPSEEA framework to examine the pathways in which ecosystem change impacts human wellbeing, this analysis demonstrates the complexity of our dependence on coastal ecosystems, and the nuance required to develop and sustain effective ‘actions’ to manage human and ecosystems health in the future.