ManagementPlan
From coraldigest
Developing an Effective Management Plan
What makes for an effective Management Plan?
- Value of the ecosystem, resource needs and sources must be understood, and there must be a balance between resource extraction and ecological integrity
- Coral reefs provide essential functions and services
- Protect shorelines, filter water, cycle nutrients
- Provide habitat for commercially valuable fish species
- Provide recreational and aesthetic enjoyment to people
- Coral reef species are commercially harvested for several reasons
- Sources of pharmaceuticals and natural-product chemicals.
- Provide recreation and tourism, scientific research, education
- Threats to ecosystems function and services must be identified in order to efficiently direct management
- Harvesting Activities - decline of populations and loss of higher level carnivores within the ecosystem from over harvest, physical damage from fishing gear
- Recreational Use - anchor and diver damage to corals, disturbance of reef organisms, pollution of the reef environment
- Water Pollution - various impacts ranging from loss of light to nutrient changes and disease introductions
- Coastal Development - increased sedimentation, altered upland runoff and nutrient input to the reef system, loss of juvenile nursery habitat
- Successful ecosystem management must account for stability and resilience in order to ensure sustainability of the ecosystem in the long run
- The ecosystem must be viewed in a holistic manner and with a contextual point of view
- Non-equilibrium perspective of ecosystems, dynamic and consist of constantly shifting mosaics
- Uncertainty cannot always be accounted for so flexibility in management in necessary
- Management plans must be constantly revised in order to adapt to dynamic conditions
Resources
- Tilmant, James. Coral Reef Protected Areas: A Guide for Management. Prepared by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Working Group on Ecosystem Science and Conservation. March, 2000.