Objectives for management of socio-ecological systems in the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia

van Putten, Elizabeth I. and Dichmont, Catherine M. and Dutra, Leo and Thébaud, Olivier and Deng, Roy A. and Jebreen, Eddie and Owens, Randall and Pascual, Ricardo and Read, Mark and Thompson, Carolyn (2016) Objectives for management of socio-ecological systems in the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia. Regional Environmental Change, 16 (45). pp. 1417-1431. ISSN 1436-3798

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Abstract

A wide range of goals and objectives have to be
taken into account in natural resources management.
Defining these objectives in operational terms, including
dimensions such as sustainability, productivity, and equity,
is by no means easy, especially if they must capture the
diversity of community and stakeholder values. This is
especially true in the coastal zone where land activities
affect regional marine ecosystems. In this study, the aim
was firstly to identify and hierarchically organise the goals
and objectives for coastal systems, as defined by local
stakeholders. Two case study areas are used within the
Great Barrier Reef region being Mackay and Bowen–
Burdekin. Secondly, the aim was to identify similarities
between the case study results and thus develop a generic
set of goals to be used as a starting point in other coastal
communities. Results show that overarching high-level
goals have nested sub-goals that contain a set of more
detailed regional objectives. The similarities in high-level
environmental, governance, and socio-economic goals
suggest that regionally specific objectives can be developed
based on a generic set of goals. The prominence of governance
objectives reflects local stakeholder perceptions
that current coastal zone management is not achieving the
outcomes they feel important and that there is a need for
increased community engagement and co-management.
More importantly, it raises the question of how to make
issues relevant for the local community and entice participation
in the local management of public resources to
achieve sustainable environmental, social, and economic
management outcomes.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Marine Studies
Depositing User:	Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata
Date Deposited:	31 Aug 2016 05:29
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2016 05:29
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/9231

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