Tag: benefits of nature

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Coastal News from the Field: Recent Developments on Decision Support Tools for Habitat Restoration Management

By Ellis Kalaidjian

In today’s era of heightened environmental awareness and the urgent need for sustainable practices, habitat restoration management tools play a pivotal role in guiding conservation efforts and ecosystem revitalization. One such tool is the habitat suitability index (HSI), which offers a structured approach to assess the viability of habitats and make informed decisions about restoration strategies. HSIs leverage scientific data and spatial analysis to pinpoint areas with the highest potential for restoration success, thereby maximizing the efficiency and impact of conservation initiatives. As we strive to protect and restore our natural habitats, tools like the HSI provide a blueprint for achieving tangible and lasting ecological benefits.

In a study recently published in Coastal Management, researchers from the Nature Conservancy and Nova Southeastern University developed a HSI for oyster reef restoration efforts in the Pensacola Bay System, Florida, with the goal of pinpointing areas most conducive to oyster habitat regeneration. The HSI framework incorporated seven critical factors influencing oyster reef viability, including contemporary oyster reef presence, bottom dissolved oxygen levels, historical oyster reef data, oyster recruitment rates, summer mean salinity, seagrass coverage, and substrate type. Each factor was scored and spatially analyzed to generate a composite HSI raster for the entire PBS area.

An oyster reef in the Pensacola Bay System, FL

Key findings from the HSI analysis revealed varying suitability scores across the study area, with higher scores concentrated in central East Bay and southeastern Escambia Bay regions. The highest suitability areas (HSI > 0.74) represented optimal locations for restoration, covering approximately 16% of the PBS. Model validation was conducted using independent data from area oyster fishers, confirming an 87% agreement with medium to high suitability HSI areas. The study emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement in refining and validating the HSI, ensuring practical applicability and acceptance among restoration practitioners.

The HSI not only streamlines site selection for restoration projects but also aids in understanding the complex factors influencing oyster reef decline. Historical exploitation, pollution events, and sedimentation emerged as primary drivers of reef loss in PBS, highlighting the need for targeted restoration efforts in less impacted areas. The research underscores the value of integrating quantitative data and stakeholder knowledge into decision-making processes for coastal restoration. Additionally, the study demonstrates the feasibility of constructing reliable HSIs and emphasizes their role as decision support tools in ecosystem restoration initiatives.

In conclusion, the development and validation of the PBS-specific HSI represent a significant step towards effective oyster reef restoration planning. By focusing efforts on areas with the highest suitability, restoration practitioners can maximize success while conserving resources, contributing to the long-term recovery of oyster habitats in the PBS.

Citation: Geselbracht, L., Johnston, M., DeAngelis, B. M., & Birch, A. (2024). Estuary-Specific and Adaptive Habitat Suitability Index Model for the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica in the Pensacola Bay System, Florida, USA. Coastal Management, 1-18.

Disclaimer: This post does not serve as an endorsement of the author’s opinion, nor does it express the views of The Coastal Society.

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Coastal News from the Field: Considering the Human Well-Being Impacts of Marine Protected Areas

By Ellis Kalaidjian

A comprehensive approach to sustainable development considers social impacts in environmental management and policy decisions. In practice, this requires decision-makers to have a nuanced understanding of how the services afforded by natural environments contribute to the livelihoods and well-being (generally understood as a measure of quality of life) of individuals and communities adjacent to them. The relationships between communities and their surrounding environments are dynamic and often place-specific. This month’s edition of the Coastal News from the Field series features a timely study by researchers from the University of St. Andrews, who explore the livelihood and well-being impacts of the Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, a marine protected area (MPA) in Kenya, on nearby communities. The article was recently published in Coastal Management.

Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve (WMNPR) was designated as a protected area in 1968 and as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1979. The MPA comprises over 40 km2 of coral reef, seagrass, mangrove, and sandflat habitats. Nearby villages are supported by key ecological and economic services provided by this habitat complex. The MPA’s offshore reefs provide coastal protection and, along with the mangrove and seagrass habitats, serve as important spawning ground habitat for fish species. Various livelihoods, including fishing, tourism-based activities, fuelwood harvesting and beekeeping, are also supported by the MPA. Yet, land-use changes and other anthropogenic stressors have degraded the ecosystems upon which the coastal Kenyan region heavily relies.

A map of the WMNPR and its regional setting (source: Kenya Wildlife Service, 2016)

The research team investigated how the presence of the WMNPR has impacted the livelihoods of those in proximity to it and, in turn, three dimensions—material, relational, and subjective—of such individuals’ well-being. Researchers surveyed 308 inhabitants of two towns, Uyombo and Mida, that differed socio-demographically and in their geographic proximities to the MPA. Uyombo is closer to the MPA than Mida yet is more removed from the economic activities and tourism associated with it. Through various statistical analyses of survey responses, the study offered several key findings:

  1. As anticipated, primary livelihoods differed significantly by town; owning a small business (selling clothes, fruit, etc.) was the most frequently reported livelihood in Uyombo, whereas crop farming was most engaged in by respondents from Mida. Yet, differences in levels of dependence on the WMNPR between the two villages could not be confirmed.
  2. Two key benefits were cited most often by survey respondents: (1) the MPA has contributed to improvements in their health, and (2) the MPA has allowed them to enjoy a healthy coastal ecosystem. By contrast, the most often reported disbenefits of the MPA were a decrease in natural resource management participation, as well as increased conflict and social tension.
  3. The benefits and disbenefits reported captured all three dimensions of well-being.

The authors conclude that their findings have significant implications for both research and the management of the WMNPR. The direct influence of WMNPR on the livelihoods of residents in Uyombo and Mida may be smaller than previously believed. For researchers, this suggests that trades such as fishing, which are overstudied in investigations of the communities that are impacted by MPAs, should be considered more evenly alongside others to ensure that vulnerable demographics are not overlooked. The finding that respondents were often dissatisfied with their decreased participation in the management of the areas comprising the WMNPR suggests that its governance needs to further promote bottom-up approaches that will comprehensively address the identified disbenefits. Moving forward, continued research about the dynamics of communities’ relationships with MPAs will help further inform management that adequately weighs well-being considerations.

Citation: Harker, A. L., Stojanovic, T. A., Majalia, A. M., Jackson, C., Baya, S., & Tsiganyiu, K. D. (2022). Relationships between Livelihoods, Well-Being, and Marine Protected Areas: Evidence from a Community Survey, Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, Kenya. Coastal Management, 1-24. DOI: 10.1080/08920753.2022.2126266

Disclaimer: This post does not serve as an endorsement of the author’s opinion, nor does it express the views of the Coastal Society.