The governance of marine and coral reef restoration, lessons and paths forward for novel interventions

Environmental Science & Policy, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 164, С. 103999 - 103999

Опубликована: Янв. 17, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Community Engagement for Novel Ecosystem Restoration and Assisted Adaptation Interventions: Observations and Lessons from the Australian Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program

Society & Natural Resources, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 1 - 20

Опубликована: Фев. 10, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Natural recovery of corals after severe disturbance

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 27(1)

Опубликована: Окт. 18, 2023

Ecosystem recovery from human-induced disturbances, whether through natural processes or restoration, is occurring worldwide. Yet, dynamics, and their implications for broader ecosystem management, remain unclear. We explored dynamics using coral reefs as a case study. tracked the fate of 809 individual recruits that settled after severe bleaching event at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Recruited Acropora corals, first detected in 2020, grew to cover levels were equivalent global average within just 2 years. Furthermore, we found 11.5 per square meter sufficient reach this However, wave exposure, growth form colony density had marked effect on rates. Our results underscore importance considering management restoration highlight how lessons learnt reef can inform our understanding high-diversity climate-disturbed ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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Low light intensity increased survival of coral spat in aquaculture

Coral Reefs, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 43(3), С. 627 - 640

Опубликована: Апрель 20, 2024

Abstract Coral reef ecosystems are declining and may not recover under future climate scenarios without intervention. Seeding reefs with corals bred in aquaculture is a promising restoration intervention; however, early coral recruits (spat) vulnerable to overgrowth by benthic algae maximizing their survival essential for the feasibility of large-scale breeding operations. This study investigated optimal light quality intensity spat growth presence algal communities typically used induce larval settlement, but which might also outcompete reduce during grow-out period. Spat were exposed two spectra (blue full spectrum) at four intensities (5–160 µmol m −2 s −1 ) over 12-week post-settlement. Survival was reduced highest nearly 40% compared lowest intensity. Light spectrum only affected 60 —where higher blue light. treatments did affect final size 33% smaller weeks 6 8 due crustose coralline (CCA), most abundant these conditions. Low intensity, on other hand, favored green brown algae, potentially respective physiologies or less competition from algae. These results indicate that low presents several advantages maintaining aquaculture, including significantly affecting growth, as well minimizing husbandry operating expenses.

Язык: Английский

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Coral reefs, cloud forests and radical climate interventions in Australia’s Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef

PLOS Climate, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 2(10), С. e0000221 - e0000221

Опубликована: Окт. 4, 2023

Given the inadequacy of current patterns climate mitigation, calls for rapid protection are beginning to explore and endorse potentially radical options. Based on fieldwork involving original expert interviews (N = 23) extensive site visits in Australia, this empirical study explores four types interventions spanning differing degrees radicalism: adaptation, solar geoengineering, forestry ecosystems restoration, carbon removal. It examines ongoing efforts engage selective breeding assisted adaptation coral species be introduced Great Barrier Reef, as well implement regional geoengineering form fogging marine cloud brightening. also related attempts at both nature-based engineered forms removal vis-à-vis ecosystem restoration via conservation reforestation Wet Tropics Queensland World Heritage Area, enhanced weathering ocean alkalinization. This portfolio challenges existing categorizations typologies action. Moreover, identifies positive synergies coupling between options themselves, but lingering trade-offs risks needing taken into account. discusses three inductive themes which emerged from qualitative data: complexity coupling, risk multi-scalar effects, radicality governance. elucidates these with an attempt generalize lessons learned other communities around world considering protect forests, preserve reefs, or geoengineering.

Язык: Английский

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Cost‐effectiveness of tourism‐led coral planting at scale on the northern Great Barrier Reef

Restoration Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 32(4)

Опубликована: Март 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.

Язык: Английский

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Australians support multi-pronged action to build ecosystem resilience in the Great Barrier Reef

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 299, С. 110789 - 110789

Опубликована: Окт. 9, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Bacterial communities associated with corals out-planted on the Great Barrier Reef are inherently dynamic over space and time

Marine Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 170(7)

Опубликована: Май 23, 2023

Abstract Coral propagation and out-planting are becoming commonly adopted as part of reef stewardship strategies aimed at improving resilience through enhanced natural recovery rehabilitation. The coral microbiome has a crucial role in the success holobiont can be impacted shortly after out-planting. However, long-term characterisation out-plant relation to survival, how these properties vary across sites, is unexplored. Therefore, three sites on Opal Reef, Great Barrier Reef (Mojo, Sandbox Rayban, 16°12′18″S 145°53′54″E), we examined bacterial communities associated with out-planted Acropora millepora monitored survival over 12 months (February 2021–22). Bacterial corals exhibited significant changes from donor colonies 7 days 1.5 Further, community composition differed for Rayban low overall (0–43%) versus Mojo higher (47–75%). After initial dissimilarity out-plants months, despite within time, similar microbial 6, 9 months. We hypothesise trends reflect shaped by rapid local environmental characteristics (e.g. source site), where ‘conform’ site conditions. changes, may then under influence global conditions—such annual temperature seasons. Such outcomes indicate importance selection shaping subsequent success. Importantly, continued differences trajectory but that other factors—apart changes—likely govern longer term. Our research highlights need resolve drivers small-scale alongside resolution spatiotemporal monitoring conditions distinguish key (i) change during (ii) subsequently inform optimise future restoration efforts.

Язык: Английский

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The sociotechnical dynamics of blue carbon management: Testing typologies of ideographs, innovation, and co-impacts for marine carbon removal

Environmental Science & Policy, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 155, С. 103730 - 103730

Опубликована: Март 22, 2024

Efforts to halt the precipitous decline of marine ecosystems are taking on additional importance in relation discussions climate change and carbon removal. Out all biological captured world, more than half is stored by living organisms, oceans represent largest long-term sink for carbon. Blue carbon, preservation enhancement coastal removal, treated as a potentially cost-effective way capture store generate community co-benefits, implement conservation agendas. However, blue among most unproven intervention options, part given their status highly threatened systems which moreover have critical connections planetary health food security. Based extensive place-based field research document analysis, this study examines three innovations: coral reef Australia, seagrass restoration United Kingdom, macroalgae (seaweed) cultivation deep ocean storage States. Empirically, it utilizes an extensive, original dataset expert interviews (N=46), site visits (N=38) analysis undertaken over late 2022 2023. Conceptually, advances our understanding typologies related narratives ideographs, innovation technological styles, co-impacts. It thus offers comparative case work across locations approaches with mixed-methods data aimed at novel theoretical triangulation typological frameworks.

Язык: Английский

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Institutional dimensions of coral reef restoration in the Philippines

Environmental Science & Policy, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 156, С. 103734 - 103734

Опубликована: Март 28, 2024

While the Philippines is mostly known for its experiences on marine protected areas, local governments and non-government organizations are increasingly using coral restoration with aim of rehabilitating degraded reef areas. Since establishment artificial reefs in 1970s, application, techniques corresponding policy directives have evolved over time, has recently generated significant interest investments from donors government agencies. As does not a framework to support effective sustainable practices use different techniques, increase unregulated may result unintended consequences pose potential challenges coastal management. To address this gap, we conducted review existing policies, programs projects across country, focus social, economic governance aspects. The study collated published literature unpublished information key informant interviews. results show that continues increase, guidelines poorly implemented widely understood among practitioners. reported ecological benefits, socio-economic impacts limited. evidence supports need policies contextualize contribute relevant decisions about protection reefs.

Язык: Английский

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