11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

21.807
The Recreational Value Of Coral Reef in The Wider Caribbean: A Classical And
Bayesian Approach To Meta-Analysis And Benefit Transfer
Luz LONDONO_DIAZ* 1
1 Agricultural and Natural Resources Economics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Meta-analysis and benefit transfer are increasingly being used by researchers and policy
makers in seeking the estimation of environmental values, as well as the adjustment of
welfare measures for transferring to different policy contexts. The need for transfer
values is justified by the absence of valuation studies in specific policy sites, perhaps due
to budgetary constrains. The Caribbean features both: the existence of a number of coral
reefs valuation studies, and the urgent need for mechanisms to curb the degradation of
these ecosystems. Thus, it constitutes a call for a critical statistical synthesis of existing
value estimates as well as for testing the validity of value transfer across policy sites. This
paper investigates the validity and robustness of value transfer based two methodological
approaches: the classical meta-regression analysis and a Bayesian model, applied on the
recreational value of coral reef in the wider Caribbean. The results show that transfer
techniques are enhanced under the Bayesian approach, offering higher accuracy in the
transfer of recreational benefits, even in the presence of a small meta-sample.
21.808
Food Habit in The Coastal Zones Of The Arid Tropics
Hiroshi NAWATA* 1
1 Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
I analyzed resource patch accessibility and availability in the coastal zones of the arid
tropics, focusing on human-camel relationships in coral reef and mangrove ecosystems
(Nawata, 2006). In this paper, I reveal a general framework of human food habit in the
coastal zones of the arid tropics, based on the case study of the Beja on the Sudanese Red
Sea coast. Economic production of the Beja depends mainly on their herds of camels,
cattle, sheep, and goats. Although many people practice some cultivation of sorghum and
pearl millet, some also engage in fishing on the seashore. Their food habit consist of; i)
drink, sesoning and spice; ii) pastoral products such as milk, milk products, meats and
eggs; iii) agricultural products such as cereals, beans, vegetables and fruits; iv) hunting,
gathering and fishing products such as insects, land reptiles, birds, land mammals, sea
reptiles, sea mammals, sea fishes and sea shells; v) human flesh referred in oral history.
The most interesting aspects of food habit in the coastal zone of the arid tropics are
human dependence on sea products of hunting, gathering and fishing. Therefore, in terms
of arid land food production, we should reconsider much possibilities of development in
sea products as principal element of the diet for the future.
Poster Mini-Symposium 21: Social-Ecological Systems
21.809
Marine Resource Dependence, Resource Use Patterns And Identification Of Economic
Performance Criteria Within A Small Island Community: Kaledupa, Indonesia
Leanne CULLEN* 1,2 , David SMITH 2 , Jules PRETTY 3
1 Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO, Cairns, Australia, 2 Coral Reef Research Unit, University of
Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom, 3 Centre for Environment and Society, University of Essex,
Colchester, United Kingdom
Marine resources in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia, are heavily relied upon for
food, raw materials and income. Most marine ecosystems in the region are regarded healthy, but
there is concern over the rapid deterioration of some of the more accessible areas of reef,
mangrove and seagrass. Several management initiatives have been attempted, with little
success.
A major reason why past conservation management initiatives have failed to reach their goals is
lack of compliance of local communities to management rules and regulations. This is due
largely to actual, perceived, or expected, economic losses to communities utilising natural
resources for their own sustainability. Hence a key role of management should be to maintain or
improve the economic status of local people.
The development of a simple series of economic performance criteria, i.e. testable parameters
through which changes could be identified would allow economic status to be assessed. If
appropriate methods can be developed, values generated could be used to implement
economically and ecologically sound management practices with stakeholder support. To work
towards this aim we need to understand local resource use patterns and economic importance,
quantify local dependence, and describe existing livelihood strategies.
This study used the example of the Kaledupa sub-district, Indonesia, to provide a detailed case
study of a small island community with high natural resource dependence. The study details
natural resource use patterns and the extensive local complexities that must be understood for
any chance of management success, it also highlights the importance of marine resources to the
local economy. A series of economic performance criteria were identified which could be used
in the development of appropriate management plans that aim to maintain ecological wealth and
develop sustainable utilisation, whilst maintaining or improving the economic status of local
user groups and maintaining local participation and support.
21.810
An Interdisciplinary Approach To Reef Conservation
Philipp TAVAKOLI* 1
1 Interdisciplinary Studies, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
The objective of this paper is to illustrate the importance of extending reef conservation efforts
to the adjacent coastal communities, and in particular of including socio-economic factors.
This paper presents the case study of Koh Tao, Thailand. The method is interdisciplinary: reef
surveys, using the REEF CHECK method, are linked to environmental issues and socioeconomic
factors on the island. The study examines the mutual cause-effect relationships
among these issues on a local level and ignores global factors, such as climate change.
The island of Koh Tao is a global center of scuba diving; it probably receives more divers
annually than any other destination. The island has not yet followed the trend of massive
development of other major tourist destinations, and most reefs are still in good condition.
However, development has been growing rapidly over the past few years. The sheer amount of
divers, the diesel from the dive boats, and the increasing run-off are taking their toll on the
reefs. In brief, this study shows how the locals’ lack of education and of appreciation for the
reef itself, social community issues, and the very limited scope of economic opportunities,
prevent sustainable development and result in reef deterioration. These factors are further
reinforced by the transient nature of the dive industry. In return, the deterioration of the reefs
results in increasing economic hardship, social tensions in the community, and even fewer
opportunities for advancement, such as education, for the local people. Reefs as well as people
are caught in this downward spiral. Reef ecosystems and human communities are closely
intertwined and the well being of one depends on the well being of the other.
The analysis of cause-effect relationships then provides valuable guidance for sustainable
development and ecotourism which ultimately foster reef conservation.
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