Developing 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

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.
Ecosystem Management: Adaptive Community-Based Conservation by: G.K. Meffe, L.A., Nielsen, R.L. Night, & D.A. Schenborn. 2002. Chapter 2.
Lackey, R. T. (2001). Values, policy, and ecosystem health. Bioscience 51:437-443.
Holling, C.S. and G.K. Meffe. (1996). Control and the pathology of natural resource management. Conservation Biology 10(2): 328-337.
Botsford, L.W., et al. (1997). The management of fisheries and marine ecosystems. Science. 277:509-515.

Notes

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
Meffe, Chap. 2
Lackey, R. T. (2001). Values, policy, and ecosystem health. Bioscience 51:437-443.
Holling, C.S. and G.K. Meffe. (1996). Control and the pathology of natural resource management. Conservation Biology 10(2): 328-337.
Nowacki, G.J. and M.D. Abrams. (2008). The demise of fire and “mesophication” of forests in the eastern United States. BioScience. 58(2):123-138.
Botsford, L.W., et al. (1997). The management of fisheries and marine ecosystems. Science. 277:509-515.