Gyaviira Luwaga & Catherine Nakimera
This article was initially published on research gate and is available for download here
Preface
As our planet continues to face pressing environmental challenges, the health and vitality of our oceans and coral reefs have become critical concerns. For many communities in developing countries, coral reefs are not only vital sources of food and livelihoods, but they also serve as important cultural and spiritual touchstones. However, the devastating effects of climate change, overfishing, and pollution have threatened the very existence of these delicate ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
In this article, we explore innovative approaches to revitalizing coral reef communities in developing countries. Drawing on the latest research and practical examples, we examine how a combination of community-based conservation efforts, sustainable tourism, and technological advancements can help transform livelihoods and empower local communities to become stewards of their natural resources.
Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that provide a range of benefits to humans, from supporting fisheries and tourism to protecting coastlines from storms and erosion. However, coral reefs are under threat from a variety of factors, including climate change, overfishing, and pollution. The transformation of the livelihoods of coral reef-dependent communities is an essential topic that needs to be addressed to preserve these vital ecosystems.1 Coral reef-dependent communities rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods. These communities typically live in coastal areas where coral reefs provide food and income from fishing and tourism. Primarily located in developing countries, they are facing poverty, lack of education, and limited access to resources.
The economic challenges that they face have exacerbated dependence on coral reefs which has resulted in overfishing. Overfishing occurs when fish are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce, leading to a decline in fish populations. This could have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of local communities that rely on fishing for income and food. According to a study by Cinner et al. (2020), overfishing and poor management practices in densely populated areas are leading to a decline in the condition of coral reef fisheries.
The Philippines is an example of where reefs are under threat due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices. Dynamite and cyanide fishing are still common in many areas, which destroys the coral and harms the marine ecosystem. This has led to a decline in fish populations, which has negatively affected the livelihoods of many Filipinos who rely on fishing for their income. Indonesia which has the largest coral reef system in the world continues to fall victim to destructive fishing practices that have led to a decline in fish populations. Blast fishing, which involves the use of explosives to kill fish, is still common in many areas. This practice damages the coral and the habitat of many other marine creatures, leading to a decline in biodiversity and the collapse of the fishery.
Tanzania in East Africa is another country that has been affected by overfishing and poor management practices. The government struggles to enforce fishing regulations, leading to illegal fishing and overfishing. This has resulted in a decline in fish populations and a loss of income for many fishing communities. The growing decline in the condition of coral reef fisheries has significantly impacted the livelihoods of people who rely on fishing for their income. To address this issue, community-based management strategies have been implemented in many coral reef-dependent communities. These strategies involve engaging local communities in the management of their own resources. This approach has been shown to be effective in promoting sustainable fishing practices and improving the livelihoods of local communities (Horigue & Koeshendrajana, 2015).2
Another approach to sustainably managing coral reef fisheries is through periodically harvested marine reserves. These reserves are areas of the ocean where fishing is prohibited for a period of time, allowing fish populations to recover. Once the fish populations have recovered, fishing can resume. This approach has been shown to be effective in sustaining small-scale fisheries in coral reef-dependent communities (Cohen & Foale, 2013).3
The Philippines has responded by creating a network of marine protected areas, including the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These reserves have helped to protect the coral reefs and have also supported the livelihoods of small-scale fishers. Similarly, Mexico has created a number of marine reserves in its waters, including the Cabo Pulmo National Park, home to the oldest coral reef in the Americas. The reserve has helped to restore the coral reef and has also provided economic benefits to the local community through sustainable tourism and fishing practices. Australia has also created the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which is the largest marine reserve in the world to protect the reef and support the sustainable use of its resources by small-scale fishers.
Belize has also created a network of marine reserves, including the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which has helped to protect the coral reef and support the livelihoods of small-scale fishers. In the same vein, Indonesia, home to some of the most bio-diverse coral reefs in the world, has created a network of marine reserves, including the Wakatobi National Park, to help protect the coral reef and promote the sustainable use of its resources by small-scale fishers. These approaches are aimed at sustainable protection and environmental continuity.
In addition to sustainable fishing practices, tourism has been identified as another important source of income for many coral reef-dependent communities. However, tourism can also have a negative impact on coral reefs if not managed properly. For example, snorkelling and diving can damage coral reefs if tourists are not properly educated on how to minimize their impact. To address this issue, community-based ecotourism initiatives have been implemented in many coral reef-dependent communities. These initiatives involve engaging local communities in the development and management of sustainable tourism practices. This approach has been shown to be effective in promoting sustainable tourism and improving the livelihoods of local communities (Cinner et al., 2021). Examples include; the Namena Marine Reserve in Fiji managed by the traditional land owning clans in the area that have set up a tourism program which offers visitors a chance to learn about the reef ecosystem and participate in activities such as snorkelling and diving.
Similarly, the Wakatobi National Park in Indonesia, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve in Belize, the Mu Koh Surin National Park in Thailand; and the Apo Island Marine Reserve in the Philippines are examples of community- based ecotourism initiatives that are managed by the local community. These centres offer visitors a chance to explore the coral reefs, learn about the local culture, the reef ecosystem, and allow them to participate in controlled activities such as snorkelling and diving.
Also, climate change is another significant threat to coral reefs and the livelihoods of coral reef- dependent communities. Rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and sea level rise are all impacting the health and resilience of coral reefs. This has a direct impact on the livelihoods of local communities that rely on coral reefs for food and income. To address this issue, a range of climate adaptation strategies are being implemented in coral reef- dependent communities. These strategies include the development of alternative livelihoods, such as agriculture or aquaculture that are less dependent on coral reefs. In addition, education and awareness campaigns are being implemented to help communities understand the impacts of climate change on coral reefs and to encourage them to take action to reduce their carbon footprint (Darling et al., 2017).4 Examples include; the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s “Reef Beat” program in Australia that aims to educate the public about the importance of the Great Barrier Reef and the impacts of climate change. The program includes interactive exhibits, school programs, and community events; the Coral Reef Alliance’s “Coral Reef Education Program” in the Caribbean which focus on educating local communities about the importance of coral reefs and the impacts of climate change on them; the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative’s “Coral Reef Outreach and Education Program” which aims to educate the public on the importance of Hawaii’s coral reefs and the threats they face from climate change; the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security’s “Education and Awareness Campaign” in Southeast Asia that aims to raise awareness about the importance of coral reefs and the impacts of climate change on them; and the Nature Conservancy’s “Reef Resilience Network” program which aims to build the capacity of local communities to manage and protect coral reefs in the face of climate change. Correspondingly, communities are also taking action to restore damaged coral reefs. Coral reef restoration involves the propagation and transplantation of corals to damaged reefs to help them recover. This approach has been shown to be effective in restoring damaged reefs and improving the livelihoods of local communities (Emslie et al., 2017).5
In conclusion, it is essential to transform the livelihoods of coral reef-dependent communities for the preservation of vital ecosystems. Coral reefs provide a range of benefits to humans, from supporting fisheries and tourism to protecting coastlines from storms and erosion. However, coral reefs are under threat from a variety of factors, including climate change, overfishing, and pollution.
Coral reef-dependent communities in third-world countries are particularly vulnerable to these threats and often lack the resources and education needed to address them. Therefore, it is crucial to implement sustainable management strategies, develop alternative livelihoods, and educate local communities on the impacts of their actions. By transforming the livelihoods of coral reef-dependent communities, we can ensure the long-term preservation of these vital ecosystems for future generations to come.
Bibliography:
1 Cinner, J. E., Huchery, C., MacNeil, M. A., Graham, N. A., McClana- han, T. R., Maina, J., … & Barnes, M. L. (2020). Global effects of local human population density and distance to markets on the condition of coral reef fisheries. Conservation Biology, 34(6), 1416-1426.
2 Horigue, V., & Koeshendrajana, S. (2015). Community-based coral reef management in Indonesia. Ocean & Coastal Management, 117, 50-60.
3 Cohen, P. J., & Foale, S. J. (2013). Sustaining small-scale fisheries with periodically harvested marine reserves. Marine Policy, 37, 278-287.
4 Darling, E. S., McClanahan, T. R., Maina, J., Gurney, G. G., Gra- ham, N. A., Januchowski-hartley, F., … & Maire, E. (2017). Social–en- vironmental drivers inform strategic management of coral reefs in the Anthropocene. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1(11), 0016.
5 Emslie, M. J., Cheal, A. J., Logan, M., Hoogenboom, M. O., & Miller, I. (2017). Rapid increase in fish numbers follows creation of world’s largest marine reserve network. Current Biology, 27(9), R332-R333.