Adaptive Management for Novel Ecosystems

Abstract

Although appreciation of ecosystem degradation and differential species loss through anthropogenic drivers is not new, the recognition that changes are predictable and sometimes lead to persistent new ecosystem configurations (species compositions and relative abundances) has led to the emerging concept of novel ecosystems. Coral reefs provide a powerful focal ecosystem to examine the importance of the novel ecosystem concept and implications for management, having been substantially altered by a range of direct anthropogenic drivers and global climate change. Assessing how effective existing management approaches are in a novel coral reef ecosystem context, and trialing new approaches will inherently require adaptive management that embraces experimentation and learning. Critically, successful and equitable approaches will need to be tailored to local social-ecological contexts and involve multiple stakeholders. Although many challenges exist, embracing novel futures will enable the development of innovative management approaches by moving away from the notion of trying to return to pristine ecosystem configurations that are no longer achievable.