Economic valuation of coastal ecosystem services for blue economy development in Indonesia

Coastal ecosystems provide essential services to underpin the blue economy and human well-being, yet their contributions and integration into regional development planning are often constrained by methodological and practical challenges. This study addresses this gap by applying a meta-regression approach to systematically estimate and spatially analyze the economic value of tropical coastal ecosystem services in Indonesia. Drawing on 62 peer-reviewed studies, we compile 277 value estimates covering mangrove, seagrass, and coral reefs across ten ecosystem service types. Using an ordinary least squares (OLS) meta-regression model, we standardize and upscale these values to generate a national-level estimate for 2024, complemented by spatial distribution analysis. The results indicate that the total economic value (TEV) of Indonesia’s coastal ecosystem services ranges from 59.44 to 107.45 billion USD (average 81.93 billion USD). The findings reveal pronounced heterogeneity across ecosystem types, service categories, and regions. Spatial analysis exhibits asymmetric patterns and regional unevenness, with high-value ecosystem services predominantly concentrated in less-developed, peripheral regions, such as Papua and Maluku. While economically dominant regions like Java and Bali contribute relatively less to aggregate ecosystem service value, despite higher per-hectare estimates. This study underscores a critical mismatch between ecological value and economic development, suggesting that current development paradigms may overlook high-value natural capital in marginal regions. By providing standardized, spatially explicit valuation, this study offers a robust empirical basis for integrating ecosystem services into blue economy strategies and regional policy planning in Indonesia.