11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

21-9
Integrated Economic Valuation in Coral Reef Management: Demonstration,
Appropriation And Utilization Of Coral Reef Economic Values For Sustainability
And Conservation
Rodelio SUBADE* 1
1 Division of Social Sciences, University of the Philippines - Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo,
Philippines
A major problem in the utilization of coral reef resources in developing countries like the
Philippines is that the full value of these resources is not properly reflected in the market.
A big portion of these resources’ economic values are not sold in the market and are
therefore not accounted for in society’s policy and development decision-making
This paper aims to highlight the vital need to integrate economic valuation in coral reef
management and in integrated coastal zone management. It uses the total economic value
framework, and argues that much of the economic values of coral reef resources have not
been properly demonstrated and expressed in the market and policy making, thereby
resulting to their over exploitation and damage. Mechanisms on how to demonstrate such
economic values (like entrance fees, conservation fees and others) and policies towards
capturing them are crucial aspects of integrated economic valuation. A few cases in the
Philippines show that this is possible and can provide a good framework in helping attain
sustainability and conservation of such national treasures.
21-10
Examining The Persistence Of Coral Reefs Destruction
Rijal IDRUS* 1 , Deirdre HART 1 , Eric PAWSON 1
1 Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Despite efforts to eliminate destructive fishing and improve coral reef management such
as the multi-donor funded COREMAP Project and other capacity building programs, the
state of coral reefs in Indonesia remains under threat and is continuously deteriorating. As
in many developing countries, Indonesian coastal communities are often resource rich but
income poor. With these paradoxes as a backdrop, this study examines why coastal
resources are being continuously degraded, and apparently by the people whose
livelihoods depend on them.
We explore the motives and consequences of destructive methods of resource utilisation,
and examine the potential for sustainable livelihoods based on coastal resources currently
under threat from destructive use patterns via fieldwork in nine coastal communities
within the Sulawesi Region of Indonesia.
Field evidence indicates that blast and poison fishing were the most widespread
destructive practices. Findings reveal that an array of competing demands and conflicting
interests, coupled with inefficient institutional arrangements, have rendered inadequate
many resource management institutions and efforts, allowing destructive patterns of
resource utilization to persist. Local communities are disempowered when confronted
with the intricate network of destructive-fishing actors targeting coral reefs. The
existence of this collusive network must be considered in any effort to address problems
of effective management.
Our findings also suggest that when a coastal community manages to overcome problems
with managing common-pool resources, to establish reciprocal trust and to collectively
pursue self-governance, conservation measures can be implemented and a degree of
resource sustainability attained. The outcomes provide insight into the dynamic couplings
of human and natural aspects of coastal resource systems and, as such, can help improve
the decision making process and policies affecting coastal communities in developing
nations.
Oral Mini-Symposium 21: Social-ecological Systems
21-11
Ethnographic Studies of Marine-Based Livelihoods in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Megan STONE* 1 , Liana TALAUE-MCMANUS 2 , Benjamin KUSHNER 3
1 Marine Affairs and Policy, University of Miami Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Sciences, Key Biscayne, FL, 2 Marine Affairs and Policy, University of Miami Rosentiel School
of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Miami, FL, 3 Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, Punta
Cana, Dominican Republic
PESCA (a Partnership for Ecologically Sustainable Coastal Areas) has been initiated by a joint
effort between the University of Miami and the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation to evaluate
the current state of the coral reef environment in the Punta Cana region and to develop tools to
promote sustainable decision-making in the future. We developed an interview questionnaire to
guide our ethnographic studies in examining marine-based livelihoods and the social dynamics
associated with large-scale coastal development adjacent to coral reef systems.
Preliminary results of studies around fishing and tourism-based employment indicate the critical
role of mass domestic migration in both sectors, and where fishing is often an interim
occupation in between tourism-based jobs. Migration has widened the networks of livelihood
dependence to include workers living with their nuclear family members or extended clan, to
others who send remittances to families and dependents residing in different towns. Among
fishers, the displacement of coastal villages to locations inland have resulted in a unique
structure of owner-crew relations because of the new need for transportation from inland
communities to fishing grounds. For tourism workers, separation from nuclear households is
common, and “gold-rush” towns forming out of migrant families and individuals with no shared
heritage have begun to crowd coastal communities.
Through analyzing life histories, we have examined changes in quality of life over time.
Tourism development along the coast has brought higher commodity prices and fragmented
communities within the Punta Cana region. It has also brought benefits such as a larger job
market, higher wages and better access to basic services. Subsequent analysis will allow us to
use the socioeconomic data in identifying management practices to help make coastal tourism
evolve as a socially and ecologically viable development sector.
21-12
Towards A Framework For Integrated Conservation Planning in Coastal Catchments
And Nearshore Marine Waters
Bob PRESSEY* 1
1 Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook
University, Townsville, Australia
In broad terms, the problem of integrated coastal planning can be stated simply: decisionmakers
with limited funds for natural resource management must balance the local (withincatchment)
benefits arising from their actions with the downstream benefits for freshwater and
marine systems. The reality is less simple. The difficulty of resolving choices between local and
downstream benefits can be illustrated by listing the main kinds of technical information that
managers need. For terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, they need spatially explicit
data on: biodiversity (both depictions of pattern and models of process); ecosystem services
(related to soil, water, salinity, acidity and carbon); models of likely expansion or contraction of
extractive activities in the absence of management intervention; and the cost, feasibility and
relative effectiveness of alternative management actions, including models of downstream
effects. They also need to refine qualitative goals into a complex set of quantitative objectives,
understand the socio-economic implications of management actions, and develop strategies for
involving stakeholders, managing uncertainty and adapting their approaches as new information
becomes available. There is presently no framework available for integrating all of this
information, although some partial frameworks have been proposed and some organisations
have developed specific components. A new research program at James Cook University is
coordinating a multidisciplinary project on conservation planning in coastal catchments
affecting the Great Barrier Reef. The first stage, reported here, is developing the conceptual and
technical framework for integrated planning, identifying missing components of the framework
and missing links between components. The framework is intended to be generic and applicable
widely to coastal catchments.
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