Early-stage outcomes and cost-effectiveness of implementing tourism-led coral propagation and outplanting in the Whitsundays (Great Barrier Reef) DOI Creative Commons
R. Scott, David J. Suggett,

C. Lynn Hayward

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Oct. 4, 2024

Implementation of coral restoration practices within reef management strategies is accelerating globally to support resilience and recovery. However, full costs underpinning project feasibility have historically been underreported yet are critical informing cost-benefit decision-making. Such knowledge especially lacking for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR), where a program led by tourism operators, Coral Nurture Program (CNP), was initiated in 2018 (northern GBR) continues scale. Here we describe the early outcomes implementing similar tourism-led asexual propagation outplanting new region, Whitsundays (central through CNP. Specifically, detail local operational environmental context CNP Whitsundays, implementation continuation activities, as well evaluate survivorship outplants across three sites nine months after establishment (August 2022 June 2023). Baseline benthic surveys revealed relatively low hard cover at (ranging from 3.22-8.67%), which significantly differed composition collection 16.67-38.06%), supporting strong motivation operators undertake activities. Mean fate-tracked plots between 267 days 23.33-47.58%), with declines largely driven detachment. Early-stage cost-effectiveness (costs relative outplant survival) associated activity varied widely US$33.04-178.55 per surviving (n = 4,425 outplants) depending on whether ‘in-kind’ costs, (outplanting only vs. total encompassing planning monitoring), site-based survivorship, or combination these factors, were considered. As projects continue be established globally, our results highlight need ongoing, long-term monitoring that can inform adaptive practice, fully transparent cost-reporting understand improve any given project. We further inherent context-dependency importance considering social-environmental contexts their cost-benefits economic rationale projects.

Language: Английский

Cost-benefit analysis of ecological restoration based on land use scenario simulation and ecosystem service on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau DOI Creative Commons
Mingqi Li, Shiliang Liu, Fangfang Wang

et al.

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 34, P. e02006 - e02006

Published: Jan. 18, 2022

Ecological degradation is a serious problem across the world constraining regional sustainable development, while ecological restoration of great significance in alleviating this issue. Cost-benefit analysis valid for successful project implementation and planning but large-scale studies are still lacking, especially Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), which has special geographic location extremely fragile ecosystems. This study applied patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model to simulate different scenarios quantified their costs benefits (ecosystem services values). The results indicated that priority areas varied specific landscapes scenarios. For grassland restoration, prioritized southwestern regions with large tracts grassland. cost-benefit showed benefit cost ratio farmland afforestation scenario was largest, value 128.2; it lowest degraded scenario, 58.44. And between two, 80.83. Besides, comprehensive scenarios, increased increase area when remained unchanged. can guide support policy formulation on QTP.

Language: Английский

Citations

50
Cost-effective integrated conservation and restoration priorities by trading off multiple ecosystem services DOI

Yonglin Mu,

Yun Guo, Xiaowen Li

et al.

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 320, P. 115915 - 115915

Published: Aug. 8, 2022

Language: Английский

Citations

28
Cost‐effectiveness of tourism‐led coral planting at scale on the northern Great Barrier Reef DOI Creative Commons
R. Scott, John Edmondson, Emma F. Camp

et al.

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 32(4)

Published: March 13, 2024

Stakeholder‐led coral reef restoration efforts, aimed at locally retaining or rebuilding populations, have rapidly grown over the last two decades. However, cost‐effectiveness—and in turn viability—of projects remains rarely reported. We therefore evaluated planting (often termed “outplanting”) cost‐effectiveness across first 3.5 years of Coral Nurture Program (CNP), a approach integrated within tourism operations on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. CNP operator activity reporting forms (63,632 corals planted, 5 operators, and 23 sites) were used to opportunistically calculate costs (PC; US$ −1 trip ) for “routine” versus when additional stewardship activities—that regulate effectiveness—were undertaken (e.g., nursery maintenance). Mean PC (±standard error) was US$2.34 ± 0.20 (ranging US$0.78–6.03, 5th–95th percentile), but increased 2‐ ‐6‐fold trips where propagation, site maintenance, staff training conducted support efforts. The “realized” cost (PC R establishing biomass subsequently determined by evaluating survivorship planted space (9 sites, single survey timepoint, n = 4,723 up 3 old) time (2 9–12 months, 600 corals), resulting increasing from 25–71%. demonstrate how integration practices into creates potential cost‐effective “high‐value” discuss important steps improving cost‐accounting stakeholder‐led programs that may be similarly positioned routinely determine their cost‐effectiveness.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Survival and growth of “branches of opportunity” from ten coral species outplanted on framed reef modules DOI
Junling Zhang,

Jingzhao Ke,

Xiangbo Liu

et al.

Ecological Engineering, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 212, P. 107529 - 107529

Published: Jan. 21, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Culturing for conservation: the need for timely investments in reef aquaculture DOI Creative Commons
April D. Ridlon, Edwin D. Grosholz, Boze Hancock

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: April 25, 2023

Temperate oyster and tropical coral reefs are analogous systems that create habitat for economically, ecologically, culturally important species, they provide countless ecosystem services to human coastal communities. Globally, imperiled by multiple anthropogenic stressors, particularly climate impacts. Using aquaculture support conservation goals - known as is a relatively new approach many reef building but it shows great promise promoting species recovery bolstering resilience stressors. Concerns about aquaculture-associated risks, both potential, have often restricted the implementation of this tool an emergency intervention following dramatic declines on reefs, when or were unlikely recover. Here, we combine expertise from ecosystems consider role recommendations its timely development targeted implementation. We highlight importance evaluating alongside local stakeholders Indigenous communities determine where benefits using most likely outweigh risks. spotlight proactive monitoring detect population declines, value early interventions increase efficacy. Novel approaches technologies specifically designed builders considered, including techniques complex, multi-generational multi-species reefs. address need scaling up aquaculture-assisted recovery, corals, high volume methods like those been successfully employed oysters. also recommend immediate assessment identify challenges trade-offs these approaches. use proof-of-concept projects test promising methods, advise tracking all over time their long-term Finally, outline opportunities leverage novel partnerships among conservation, industry, community interests utilize facilitate Developing now critical position managers, scientists, restoration practitioners implement in effective ways resilient worldwide.

Language: Английский

Citations

8
Spatial Planning Insights for Philippine Coral Reef Conservation Using Larval Connectivity Networks DOI Creative Commons
Patrick R. Pata, Aletta T. Yñiguez

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: Oct. 6, 2021

The marine habitats of the Philippines are recognized to be some most biodiverse systems globally yet only 1.7% its seas designated as protected areas (MPAs) with varying levels implementation. Many these MPAs were established based on local-scale conservation and fisheries objectives without considering larger-scale ecological connections. connectivity reefs through larval dispersal is important in regional-scale resilience against anthropogenic disturbances considered a significant criterion planning for MPAs. In this study, we provide insights into delineation ecologically connected MPA networks using modeling network analysis. We characterized properties Philippine coral reefs, organized 252 reef nodes, branching coral, sea urchin, grouper. then evaluated distribution existing 1,060 relative patterns. All nodes found highly interconnected mean shortest path ranging from 1.96 4.06. Reef ranked according their importance regional five indices. Despite between-organism between-index variability rankings, there mostly located offshore at major straits, which consistently high. that partially capture functions but spatial mismatch between primarily coastal high-ranking nodes. Furthermore, partitioning identified subnetworks barriers. disproportionately distributed few largest do not contain greatest number Considering gaps, suggest expanding coverage especially underrepresented meaningfully national-scale meet global objectives.

Language: Английский

Citations

13
Evaluation of the performance and cost-effectiveness of coral microfragments in covering artificial habitats DOI
Thea Philea I. Mostrales, Rene Rollon, Wilfredo Y. Licuanan

et al.

Ecological Engineering, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 184, P. 106770 - 106770

Published: Sept. 5, 2022

Language: Английский

Citations

7
Real-time high resolution tracking of coral and oyster larvae DOI Creative Commons
Robbert C. Geertsma, P. Kamermans, Albertinka J. Murk

et al.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 565, P. 151910 - 151910

Published: April 13, 2023

Coral and oyster reefs have declined greatly due to anthropogenic stressors. Low recruitment rates from larvae hamper recovery of these important ecosystems. Although much is known about factors affecting larval settlement, a detailed understanding their swimming substrate selection behaviour lacking. Here, we present an approach study coral in unprecedented detail, using high resolution camera, choice chambers behavourial analysis software. From second-by-second spatial data, extracted variables such as pattern, speed distance travelled between 0.2 3 mm length. We applied this the Caribbean brooding Favia fragum show they locate major settlement cue, coralline algae, within 90 min when placed chamber. Oyster (Ostrea edulis) exhibited reduced with age, suggesting pre-settlement behaviour. With presented real-time tracking can address new questions related coral, other marine larvae, applications ecology, aquaculture coastal engineering. Most notable future development "flypaper" substrates cues promote on reefs, aid restoration efforts.

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Coral restoration in the Philippines: Interactions with key coastal sectors DOI

Dane Erlo Matorres,

Michael Fabinyi, Kate Barclay

et al.

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 246, P. 106881 - 106881

Published: Oct. 23, 2023

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Restoring degraded coral colony using two coral transplantation techniques: A case study from Dapeng Bay, Shenzhen, China DOI Open Access
Bo Yang, Huina Zheng,

Zhouping Cui

et al.

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 69, P. 103289 - 103289

Published: Nov. 15, 2023

Language: Английский

Citations

1