2 research outputs found
Establishment of a community managed marine reserve in the Bay of Ranobe, southwest Madagascar
The Bay of Ranobe, in southwest Madagascar, once noted for its high biodiversity and fish abundance, is under increasing pressure from overfishing, pollution, sedimentation and tourism. The declining health of the coral reef is reflected in fishery productivity and survey data on biological diversity. Sustainable conservation requires the engagement of all interested parties and the integration of their needs into resource management. The British NGO ReefDoctor has adopted this approach in establishing the first community-protected site in the Bay of Ranobe, the Massif des Roses. This is a large coral patch with a high percentage of live coral cover (38%) and important fish diversity compared to other sites surveyed in the lagoon. Since 25 May 2007 it has been legally recognised as a community managed marine reserve under temporary protection where fishing is banned. Tourists must now pay an entry fee to visit the site, with the proceeds contributing to the funding of community projects. In conjunction with the protection of this site, ReefDoctor has worked with local people, regional and local government, tour operators and hotels, and conservation organisations to set up âFIMIHARAâ, an association representative of local people responsible for the management of this site and the development of sustainable conservation initiatives in the Bay of Ranobe. This paper explains the approach taken by ReefDoctor, by setting up and working with FIMIHARA, to protect the Massif des Roses site and develop other conservation initiatives and community projects in the Bay of Ranobe. RĂSUMĂ La baie de Ranobe, au sud-ouest de Madagascar, autrefois remarquable pour sa biodiversitĂ© et lâabondance de la pĂȘche, est de plus en plus menacĂ©e par la surpĂȘche, la sĂ©dimentation, la pollution et le tourisme. Le dĂ©clin de lâĂ©tat de santĂ© du rĂ©cif corallien se reflĂšte dans la diminution de la productivitĂ© des pĂȘcheries et dans les suivis de la biodiversitĂ© marine. La situation est Ă prĂ©sent critique car les ressources marines associĂ©es au rĂ©cif assurent la subsistance des populations cĂŽtiĂšres vivant le long de la baie. Nous considĂ©rons ici quâune protection pĂ©renne nĂ©cessite un engagement concret de toutes les parties prenantes - en particulier des communautĂ©s locales - et que leurs besoins soient intĂ©grĂ©s dans la gestion des ressources. LâONG ReefDoctor a mis en oeuvre cette approche lors de la crĂ©ation de la premiĂšre rĂ©serve marine dans la baie de Ranobe gĂ©rĂ©e par la communautĂ© locale, le Massif des Roses. Cette rĂ©serve est constituĂ©e dâun grand massif de corail largement couvert de coraux et abritant une importante diversitĂ© de poissons par rapport au reste du lagon. Depuis le 25 mai 2007, ce site est lĂ©galement reconnu comme rĂ©serve marine communautaire avec un statut de protection temporaire ; la pĂȘche et les pratiques destructrices associĂ©es au tourisme y sont interdites. De plus, les touristes doivent dĂ©sormais payer un droit dâentrĂ©e pour visiter le site, qui contribue au financement de projets communautaires. En parallĂšle avec la protection du site, ReefDoctor a travaillĂ© avec les communautĂ©s locales, les responsables nationaux et rĂ©gionaux du gouvernement, les opĂ©rateurs touristiques et diverses organisations de protection de la nature pour crĂ©er lâassociation FIMIHARA, reprĂ©sentative de la population locale. Cette association, qui a un statut lĂ©gal depuis le 11 avril 2007, a pour but dâamĂ©liorer la qualitĂ© de vie de ceux qui vivent le long de la baie de Ranobe et de mettre en oeuvre des projets de conservation des ressources marines et terrestres dans la rĂ©gion de la baie de Ranobe. La crĂ©ation de la rĂ©serve marine communautaire du Massif des Roses a rapidement connu le succĂšs qui sâest traduit par la vente de plus dâun millier de tickets, mais lâassociation FIMIHARA doit encore faire face Ă de nombreux dĂ©fis. Lâobjectif principal de lâassociation Ă long terme est de dĂ©velopper son indĂ©pendance par rapport Ă lâONG ReefDoctor et sa capacitĂ© Ă gĂ©rer indĂ©pendamment les ressources marines de la baie de Ranobe dont les communautĂ©s locales dĂ©pendent pour leur survie
Wicked social-ecological problems forcing unprecedented change on the latitudinal margins of coral reefs: the case of southwest Madagascar
High-latitude coral reefs may be a refuge and area of reef expansion under climate change. As these locations are expected to become dryer and as livestock and agricultural yields decline, coastal populations may become increasingly dependent on marine resources. To evaluate this social-ecological conundrum, we examined the Grand RĂ©cif of Toliara (GRT), southwest Madagascar, which was intensively studied in the 1960s and has been highly degraded since the 1980s. We analyzed the social and ecological published and unpublished literature on this region and provide new data to assess the magnitude of the changes and evaluate the causes of reef degradation. Top-down controls were identified as the major drivers: human population growth and migrations, overfishing, and climate change, specifically decreased rainfall and rising temperature. Water quality has not changed since originally studied, and bottom-up control was ruled out. The identified network of social-ecological processes acting at different scales implies that decision makers will face complex problems that are linked to broader social, economic, and policy issues. This characterizes wicked problems, which are often dealt with by partial solutions that are exploratory and include inputs from various stakeholders along with information sharing, knowledge synthesis, and trust building. A hybrid approach based on classical fishery management options and preferences, along with monitoring, feedback and forums for searching solutions, could move the process of adaptation forward once an adaptive and appropriately scaled governance system is functioning. This approach has broad implications for resources management given the emerging climate change and multiple social and environmental stresses