Incorporating Integrative Perspectives into Impact Reduction Management in a Reef Recreation Area

Chun-Hung Lee,Chu-Wei Chen,Yun-Ju Chen,Yu-Sheng Huang

doi:10.3390/w12010111

Abstract

The act of balancing two sustainability goals, the conservation of ecosystem services, and allowing access to reef recreational areas is a big challenge for the management of marine protected areas (MPAs). This study evaluates tourist preferences towards integrative aspects of an impact reduction program in a reef recreation area. We find that by integrating the marine police institution, providing educational training, setting up control of the number of divers, setting up control of the experience area, and taking boats to the snorkeling point are the key factors. We also identify the features that affect the heterogeneity of preferences with impact reduction management in the MPAs as follows: (1) monthly income; (2) type of tourist; and (3) joining conservation groups, and the integrated program generate the highest welfare value. These results can be applied to create a suitable management strategy for sustainable reef tourism that meets the needs of stakeholders.

Highlights

In tropical and subtropical regions, coral reefs function as fisheries and biomedicine repositories, provide coastal protection, and provide ecosystem services
This study evaluates and estimates tourists’ preferences for an impact reduction program in a reef activity site with the random parameter logit (RPL) model and through an interaction effect based on alternative-specific constant (ASC) and FUND with different stakeholder groups (Table 2)
The negative correlation and statistically significant sign of coefficients and t-value for ASC indicating that the tourists had a higher preference for changing the status quo regarding a reef impact reduction program

Summary

Introduction

In tropical and subtropical regions, coral reefs function as fisheries and biomedicine repositories, provide coastal protection, and provide ecosystem services. These services involve both extractive and non-extractive activities, which support social development and human well-being [1]. Coral reefs benefit more than 0.5 billion people in approximately one hundred countries around the world [2,3,4]. Many small island countries are heavily reliant on the range of ecosystem services provided by stable coral reefs for the sustainable development of their societies [5]. Besides the impact of climate change, many coral reef ecosystems are imperiled by the damage caused by unsustainable tourism practices and human impacts. Divers and snorkelers kicking with fins, physical breakage through contact (i.e., individuals kneeling, sitting, grasping, or standing on coral), and their equipment brushing against coral [11,12,13,14] can significantly lower the ecological sustainability of a reef’s ecosystem [4]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion