11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23-25
Economic Valuation Of The Shoreline Protection Services Provided By Coral Reefs
And Mangroves – Implications For Management
Lauretta BURKE* 1 , Sean PADDY 2 , Charmaine O'BRIEN-DELPESH 2 , Emily
COOPER 1
1 People and Ecosystems Program, World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, 2 Institute
of Marine Affairs, Carenage, Trinidad and Tobago
Coral reefs and mangroves play a critical role in protecting shorelines across the
Caribbean. By reducing wave energy, coral reefs mitigate both routine erosion and
damage from waves associated with small and moderate storm events. Mangroves play
an increasingly important role in mitigating waves and storm surge associated with
Category 3 hurricanes and larger storm events. Shoreline protection is an important and
economically valuable ecosystem service. Maintaining the integrity of coral reefs and
mangroves is essential to retaining their shoreline protection benefits.
Shoreline protection will become increasingly important as sea surface temperatures rise,
storm intensity increases, and sea levels rise. Coastal planning to avoid development in
areas that are most vulnerable to waves and storm surge, and to protect key mangrove and
reef areas will become increasingly important under a changing climate.
Under a project on economic valuation of coral reefs and mangroves in the Caribbean,
The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) have
developed a framework for evaluating the relative vulnerability of the shoreline to waves
and storm damage, and the relative share of shoreline protection contributed by these
habitats. The framework integrates ten physical characteristics (including coastal
elevation, slope, geomorphology, exposure, wave energy, storm regime, vegetation, and
coral reef characteristics) to arrive at an index of relative stability of the shoreline. Policy
makers can also use the framework to evaluate the potential economic “damages
avoided” in coastal areas due to the protection provided by coral reefs and mangroves.
The methodology has been applied in Tobago, St. Lucia and Belize, and provides a
valuable tool for identifying vulnerable areas and planning coastal development under
changing climate, as well as valuing these shoreline protection services. The results point
to the economic sense of retaining mangroves and supporting healthy coral reefs in
vulnerable coastal areas.
23-26
The Involvement Of The Private Sector in Marine Protected Area Planning,
Management, And Conservation: Case Studies From The Indo-Pacific
Rick MACPHERSON* 1 , Sherry FLUMERFELT 2 , Florence DEPONDT 2
1 Conservation Programs, Coral Reef Alliance, San Francisco, CA, 2 Coral Reef Alliance,
San Francisco, CA
Science is effective in informing the design of successful marine protected areas (MPAs),
only if balanced with socioeconomic, cultural, and political realities. The importance of
involving community stakeholders in MPA planning, design, and management is now
widely acknowledged and accepted. One key coral reef stakeholder group that has
received increasing attention in recent years are private sector marine recreation
providers (MRPs)–dive, snorkel, kayak, and boating operators. MRPs in coral reef
tourism destinations have a vested economic interest in supporting coral reef
conservation, as their business depends upon a healthy reef. They can play a key role in
successful conservation if educated, aware, and involved in the process. MRPs can also
pose frustrating obstacles for marine park/resource managers if their needs are not
addressed and they are not part of conservation planning. The Coral Reef Alliance
(CORAL) works in the Indo-Pacific to build the support and collaboration of MRPs in
marine protected areas. Through case studies we illustrate the importance and process of
involving MRPs in coral reef conservation strategies. Participation of this key
stakeholder group not only builds local support for conservation, but also helps fulfill
critical conservation objectives such as financial support of resource management costs,
assistance with biophysical monitoring of reefs, patrolling and reporting violations,
educating visitors on best environmental practice, and providing local communities with
non-extractive, non-destructive employment alternatives.
Oral Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23-27
Incorporating Traditional Management Practices Of Indigenous Peoples Of Tawi-Tawi,
Philippines in Coral Reef Management
Filemon ROMERO* 1
1 Center for Oceanographic Studies, Mindanao Sate University, Cainta, Rizal, Philippines
Tawi-Tawi province, part of the Sulu Archipelago reef complex, divides two large marine
ecosystems: The Sulu Sea and the Celebes Sea. This reef complex, constituting about 25% of
the total reef cover of the Philippines, performs a very critical ecological function as the
spawning and nursery ground of varied marine species but also serves as corridors for migratory
marine mammals, fish stocks and turtles. To address the threats to this reef complex like
dynamite and cyanide fishing, the WWF Coastal Resources and Fisheries Conservation Project
(CRFC) Tawi-Tawi was implemented. Management strategies that worked included
laymanizing the baseline assessment results on coral reefs, reef fishes, mangroves and
seagrasses as well as fisheries studies into IEC materials produced in local dialects either in
broadcast or print. Engaging local government early on and providing counterparts for the
initiatives developed their sense of ownership. Indigenous beliefs and traditional management
systems like habitats of “revered” species, fear of retribution from the ancestors, traditional
seaweed farming system, traditional “ownership” were incorporated in the management
framework. The Fatwah (Islamic Guidelines) on Environmental Management were likewise
developed. Coastal law enforcement remains the weakest link and needs to be improved
because of some institutional and organizational problems. The declared Marine Protected
Areas, all of which are coral reef ecosystems, were the spatial scale on reef conservation
ranging from 84 to 3,500 hectares. The MPA Management Boards were organized and the
Management Plans formulated and implemented with community participation. Now,
mechanism for local environmental governance has been set up, destructive fishing practices
reduced and coastal habitats protected by the communities resulting to improved fish catch and
livelihood opportunities for the coastal villages. Biological indicators are used to measure coral
reef management success. Likewise socio-economic indicators have also been used.
23-28
An analysis of community-based marine management in Fiji Islands: Case study of
Korolevu-i-wai districtt
Patrick FONG* 1 , Joeli VEITAYAKI 2 , Bill AALBERSBERG 3
1 Institute of Applied Science, The University of the South Pacific, Nasinu, Fiji, 2 School of
Marine Studies, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji, 3 Institute of Applied Science,
The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
The participation of local people in resource management planning, designing and
implementation in Fiji has proven to contribute to the effective and sustainable management of
reef systems and resources. This paper presents the results of an anlysis of a community-based
management (CBM) arrangement in Korolevu-i-wai district. The result of the CBM initiative in
this region has been successful with notable positive outcomes. The resource management
through the CBM approach has created better overall outcomes at present (2004 onwards) than
those of the former system and period. The anlysis revealed that the social cohesion amongst
the community members, the perceived condition of the fishery and reef system, the condition
of the terrestrial and village environment and the community’s understanding of the values of
the marine environment and the resources associated with it have greatly improved in the
district after the initialization of the CBM project. The average CPUE and income level of
fishers in the district have also increased as results of the initiative
The assesment confirmed that the key conditions for the achievement of the positive impacts of
the CBM project in Korolevu-i-wai District are: political support through the recognition of the
rights of the community to make development and management decisions regarding the marine
environment, economic status of the community, decision making group homogeneity, people’s
dependence on the marine resource as a source of income, availability of alternative sources of
income, active participation of the community in project implementation and coordination and
support and advice from outside agencies. This analysis has established that there are vital links
between the roles of the marine environment in the livelihood of the people, the impact of the
people’s management roles in the sustainability of the marine environment, and the social and
economic elements associated with it.
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