Coral Reef Valuation for MPA Management and Implementation
Full Solution
The coral reefs of St. Maarten host diverse invertebrate fauna
Nature Foundation St. Maarten
An ecosystem valuation analysis of St Maarten’s coral reefs quantifies the value of these ecosystems. The results were used to support the establishment of St Maarten’s first Marine Protected Area and to implement further management actions connected to the MPA. Moreover, the results were incorporated in climate change response strategies. The communication of the valuation’s outcome supports awareness rising among coastal communities and a growing understanding of the importance of coral reefs.
Last update: 30 Sep 2020
5649 Views
Photo and video gallery
Context
Challenges addressed
The coral reefs of St. Maarten are facing degradation due to the explosion of the tourism sector, poorly managed coastal development as well as climate change impacts. The benefits and services these ecosystems provide as well as the importance of healthy reefs to the local economy are not being acknowledged.
Location
Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean
Caribbean
Process
Summary of the process
Interviews with relevant stakeholders generates the relevant data to be used in the ecosystem service valuation tool while at the same time supports awareness building for the issue among the communities and stakeholders. The valuation tool generates an output on the value of the ecosystems and thus the importance of its conservation and sustainable management for the economy. A report, compiling these numbers, is used in outreach and education efforts and is especially helpful when presenting results to policy makers and present the economic importance of these ecosystems, which eventually led to the government’s decision to establish a Marine Protected Area.
Building Blocks
Economic valuation study
By interviewing stakeholders who are depending on the ecosystem in question for their income (e.g. dive shop owners, fishers, tourists and other tourism industry) and the use of complementary data, a compelling picture of the importance of healthy marine ecosystems for the economy can be painted, e.g. through displaying the expected annual revenues in the different commercial sectors related to the coral reef. This valuation method is based on an approach developed by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the World Resource Institute’s (WRI) Coastal Capital Project. Moreover, the use of questionnaires supports awareness building among the various stakeholders being interviewed and initiates a dialogue about the importance of conservation and sustainable management.
Enabling factors
- Identification and pre-analysis of the relevant stakeholder groups
- Personal interaction with different stakeholder groups while running questionnaires
- Well-considered communication about the survey’s purpose
- Knowledge of the best and most appropriate valuation tool
Lesson learned
- A personally performed interview is crucial to success and the receiving of data. A simple delivery of the questionnaires does not activate enough responding.
- The software used was adjusted by the St. Maarten Nature Foundation to reflect St. Maarten’s unique ecological and economic situation.
Integration of ecosystem valuation into management
The results of economic valuation studies make a great argument for the establishment of protected areas and the management of endangered ecosystems. Taking the results to the community, presenting them at community meetings, discussing them with fishers or other stakeholders can gain their support in the planned management. Especially when presenting the (economic) importance of healthy marine ecosystems to decision makers, this can be a powerful tool to reach and eventually influence political agendas to integrate and focus on marine conservation and the sustainable management of resources.
Enabling factors
- Management plan forms basis for management decision of MPA
- Transparent and result-driven communication to all stakeholders
Lesson learned
- Identifying ecologically important areas before incorporation
- Using data as a solid part of the Marine Park Management Plan
- Communication of results to stakeholders is a key to effective management
Impacts
Increased awareness on the value of the ecosystem. Improved management of marine protected area incl. e.g. the establishment of user fees and restoration costs, the construction of a mooring system to prevent anchoring damages or coral nurseries. Increasing fish populations and increased catch.
Beneficiaries
Fishers, dive sector, coastal communities as well as hotel sector & government officials.
Story
For a long time there was little government management of the marine environment in St. Maarten. In 1997, the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten was established in order to set up and manage a marine park, under contract from the St. Maarten government. But the proposed park’s design was too extensive and too complicated to gain political support. The interests of the cruise ship industry, fishers, and dive shop operators made this challenging for politicians in St. Maarten and the park remained an entity only on paper.
“Our reefs face serious threats by the expansion of the tourism sector and climate change impacts. We need a sustainable management of the reefs and its resources and not another paper park”, says Tadzio Bervoets, Manager at the St Maarten Nature Foundation.
In 2010, the Nature Foundation St. Maarten was asked again to create a well-managed marine park, with a strict no-take area to address increasing threats. The Foundation took a three-pronged approach to get support from decision makers on the marine park establishment. First, the Foundation did an ecological assessment of St. Maarten’s reefs. This baseline study pinpointed specific areas as a high priority for conservation. They redesigned the proposed park so that it would protect just those areas – representing 25% of the country’s territorial waters and covering 10,000 hectares.
Next, an economic valuation study of the marine ecosystem was completed using a method from the World Resources Institute. This so-called quick-and-dirty method was designed to be easy-to-use by managers. By interviewing dive shop owners, fishers, tourists and other tourism industry stakeholders, the study was able to paint a compelling picture of the importance of a healthy marine ecosystem to St. Maarten’s economy.
Finally, the Nature Foundation St. Maarten took the results to the community to make their case for the marine park. The Foundation made presentations at community meetings, talked with fishermen and dive operators and presented to Parliament. And eventually, on December 30, 2010, the Man of War Shoal Marine Park was established.
