Trans-Tasman Cumulative Effects Management: A Comparative Study

Kathryn K Davies,Elizabeth Ingrid Van Putten,Jeffrey M Dambacher,Karen T Fisher,Carolyn J Lundquist,Gemma Couzens,Melissa Foley,Andrew Allison

doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00025

Abstract

Managing the cumulative effects (CE) that arise from human and natural stressors is one of the most urgent and complex problems facing coastal and marine decision makers today. In the absence of effective processes, models, and political will, decision-makers struggle to implement management strategies that effectively tackle cumulative effects. Emerging efforts to address cumulative effects provide a timely opportunity to assess the efficacy of a range of management strategies operating at different scales and in different legislative and cultural contexts. Using primarily qualitative methodologies including literature reviews, focus groups, and workshops, this paper compares cumulative effects approaches within the Reef 2050 Plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), Australia, with those in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa NZ). Both case studies illustrate that cumulative effects management is especially complicated by: fragmented legislative regimes and institutions that cannot account for cross-scale or cross-sector interactions; chronic data scarcity and high levels of uncertainty that make system-based assessments and predictions challenging; and often conflicting societal and economic expectations, values, and rights that are poorly integrated into management decision-making. By considering how these two cases align with transformational change characteristics, we draw several conclusions and establish priority actions regarding (1) how to mobilise resources and political will to address CE, (2) how to deal with data scarcity and uncertainty, and (3) how to promote comprehensive and inclusive CE management of coastal and marine areas.

Highlights

Managing for cumulative effects (CE) in coastal and marine systems is confounded by many issues operating across a variety of spatial and temporal scales
Results from this study indicate that actors in the GBRMP case study have done more to prepare for a CE management transformation than the actors in the Aotearoa NZ case study
Mechanisms that promote participation and a sense of responsibility when it comes to CE governance and management have been actively developed in GBRMP, with a substantial amount of work aimed at sharing information across scales and building trust among actors

Summary

Introduction

Managing for cumulative effects (CE) in coastal and marine systems is confounded by many issues operating across a variety of spatial and temporal scales. For the purposes of our research, and in light of the myriad definitions of cumulative effects (or cumulative impacts) in international research, we define CE here as the effects of stressors that overlap in space and/or time (e.g., caused by a single repeated stressor or multiple stressors) (Davies et al, 2018a). This high-level definition, we argue, provides us enough clarity and flexibility to guide the cross-boundary discussions that are needed to address CE management in coastal and marine areas. Transformational change is likely to involve changes in perceptions, meanings and configurations of networks including leadership, power relations and institutional arrangements and structures (Folke et al, 2010)

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion