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

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.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

• Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
• Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
• Cancel anytime View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

1. The development of the hierarchical format is necessary if the aim is to later prioritise and weight these objectives (Pascoe et al. 2013) Prioritised objectives generated using the hierarchical objectives tree can be used by local management groups and authorities to better target their management actions.
2. Note that the numbering and ordering of the objectives in Tables 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 does not in any way reflect their relative importance.

References

• Archer B (1996) Sustainable tourism: an economist’s viewpoint. In: Briguglio L, Archer B, Jafari J, Wall G (eds) Sustainable tourism in Islands and small states: issues and policies. Pinter, London
  Google Scholar
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (2012) Census Quickstats 2011
• Bennett J, Lawrence P, Johnstone R et al (2005) Adaptive management and its role in managing Great Barrier Reef water quality. Mar Pollut Bull 51:70–75. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.10.034
  Article CAS Google Scholar
• Bergold J, Thomas S (2012) Participatory research methods: A methodological approach in motion. Forum Qual Social Res 13(1): 30. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1201304
• Berkes F, Folke C (1998) Linking social and ecological systems: management practices and social mechanisms for building resilience. Cambridge University Press, London
  Google Scholar
• Burt G (2011) Towards the integration of system modeling with scenario planning to support strategy: the case of the UK energy industry. J Oper Res Soc 62:830–839. doi:10.1057/jors.2010.47
  Article Google Scholar
• Charles AT (1989) Bio-socio-economic fishery models: labour dynamics and multi-objective management. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 46:1313–1322. doi:10.1139/f89-169
  Article Google Scholar
• Cinner J, Marnane MJ, Mcclanahan TR, et al. (2006) Periodic closures as adaptive coral reef management in the Indo-Pacific. Ecol Soc 11**(**1): 31. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art31/
• Cinner J, Fuentes M, Randriamahazo H (2009) Exploring social resilience in Madagascar’s marine protected areas. Ecol Soc 14(1): 41. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss1/art41/
• Coates KD, Burton PJ (1997) A gap-based approach for development of silvicultural systems to address ecosystem management objectives. For Ecol Manag 99:337–354. doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00113-8
  Article Google Scholar
• Cochrane K (2002) A fishery manager’s guidebook. Management measures and their application, FAO, vol 424. FAO, Rome
  Google Scholar
• Conroy MJ, Peterson JT (2013) Decision making in natural resource management: a structured, adaptive approach. Wiley, UK
  Book Google Scholar
• Dale A, Vella K, Pressey RL et al (2013) A method for risk analysis across governance systems: a Great Barrier Reef case study. Environ Res Lett 8:1–14. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/015037
  Article Google Scholar
• Davidson J, Van Putten I, Leith P et al (2013) A working indicator framework to operationalize resilience concepts in Australian marine sectors dealing with climate change. Ecol Soc 18(1–20):4. doi:10.5751/ES-05607-180304
  Google Scholar
• De Geus AP (1988) Planning as learning. Harvard Business Review March–April, 70–74. http://www.sims.monash.edu.au/subjects/ims5042/stuff/readings/de%20geus.pdf
• Department of Environment and Resource Management (2011) Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management Framework. https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/land/natural-resource/pdf/qld-regional-nrm-framework.pdf. Accessed 20 Aug 2015
• Dichmont CM, Pascoe S, Jebreen E et al (2013) Choosing a fishery’s governance structure using data poor methods. Mar Policy 37:123–131. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2012.02.018
  Article Google Scholar
• Dichmont CM, Dutra LXC, van Putten I, Deng RA, Owens R, Jebreen E, Thompson C, Pascual R, Warne MJ, Quinn R, Thébaud O, Bennett J, Read M, Wachenfeld D, Davies J, Garland A, Dunning M, Waycott M, Collier C, Dambacher J, Playford J, Harm R, Gribble N, Pitcher R (2014) Design and implementation of management strategy evaluation for the Great Barrier Reef inshore (MSEGBR). Report to the National Environmental Research Program. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns. http://www.nerptropical.edu.au/sites/default/files/NERP-TE-PROJECT-9.2-FINAL-REPORT-COMPLETE-PART-A.pdf. Accessed 20 Aug 2015
• Dutra LXC, Ellis N, Perez P et al (2014) Drivers influencing adaptive management: a retrospective evaluation of water quality decisions in South East Queensland (Australia). Ambio 43:1069–1081. doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0537-4
  Article Google Scholar
• Dutra LXC, Bustamante RH, Sporne I, van Putten I, Dichmont CM, Ligtermoet E, Sheaves M, Deng RA (2015) Organizational drivers that strengthen adaptive capacity in the coastal zone of Australia. Ocean Coast Manag 109:64–76. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.02.008
  Article Google Scholar
• Fidelman P, Evans L, Fabinyi M, Foale S, Cinner J, Rosen F (2012) Governing large-scale marine commons: contextual challenges in the Coral Triangle. Mar Policy 36:42–53. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2011.03.007
  Article Google Scholar
• Flyvbjerg B (2006) Five misunderstanding about case-study research. Qual Inq 12:219–245. doi:10.1177/1077800405284363
  Article Google Scholar
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (2012) Local Marine Advisory Committee: terms of reference. Townsville, Australia. http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/17459/LMAC-Terms-of-Reference-April-2012-V1.pdf. Accessed 20 Aug 2015
• Hilborn R (2007a) Defining success in fisheries and conflicts in objectives. Mar Policy 31:153–158. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2006.05.014
  Article Google Scholar
• Hilborn R (2007b) Defining success in fisheries and conflicts in objectives. Mar Policy 31:153–158. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2006.05.014
  Article Google Scholar
• Jackson S, Stoeckl N, Straton A et al (2008) The changing value of Australian tropical rivers. Geogr Res 46:275–290. doi:10.1111/j.1745-5871.2008.00523.x
  Article Google Scholar
• Jentoft S (1989) Fisheries co-management: delegating government responsibility to fishermen’s organizations. Mar Policy 13:137–154. doi:10.1016/0308-597X(89)90004-3
  Article Google Scholar
• Limpus CJ (2007) A biological review of Australian marine turtle species Flatback turtle, Natator depressus (Garman), Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane
  Google Scholar
• Ludwig D (2001) The era of management is over. Ecosystems 4:758–764. doi:10.1007/s10021-001-0044-x
  Article Google Scholar
• Lynam T, Drewry J, Higham W et al (2010) Adaptive modelling for adaptive water quality management in the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia. Environ Model Softw 25:1291–1301. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.09.013
  Article Google Scholar
• Mardle S, Pascoe S, Boncoeur J et al (2002) Objectives of fisheries management: case studies from the UK, France, Spain and Denmark. Mar Policy 26(6):415–428. doi:10.1016/S0308-597X
  Article Google Scholar
• McCay BJ, Svein J (1996) From the bottom up: participatory issues in fisheries management. Soc Nat Res 9(3):237–250. doi:10.1080/08941929609380969
  Article Google Scholar
• Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2003) Ecosystems and human well-being: a framework for assessment World Resources Institute. World Resources Institute, Washington
  Google Scholar
• Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (2004) A guide to preparing effective resource management plans forests, lands and marine branch, forests, lands and marine branch. https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/slrp/policies-guides/writing_resource_objectives.pdf. Accessed 20 Aug 2015
• Olson SB (2003) Frameworks and indicators for assessing progress in integrated coastal management initiatives. Oceans Coast Manag 46:347–361. doi:10.1016/S0964-5691(03)00012-7
  Article Google Scholar
• Pascoe S, Dichmont CM, Brooks K et al (2013) Management objectives of Queensland fisheries: putting the horse before the cart. Mar Policy 37:115–122. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2012.02.016
  Article Google Scholar
• Peterson A, Walker M, Maher M et al (2010) New regionalism and planning for water quality improvement in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Geogr Res 48:297–313. doi:10.1111/j.1745-5871.2009.00634.x
  Article Google Scholar
• Pinkerton E (ed) (1989) Cooperative management of local fisheries. New directions for improved management and community development. University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver
  Google Scholar
• Pressey RL, Cowling RM, Rouget M (2003) Formulating conservation targets for biodiversity pattern and process in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Biol Conserv 112:99–127. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00424-X
  Article Google Scholar
• Roelofs A, Roder C (2002) Seagrass and marine resources of the Newry region and sand bay dugong Protection areas, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries, Research publication No. 72, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries
• Sainsbury KJ, Punt AE, Smith ADM (2000) Design of operational management strategies for achieving fishery ecosystem objectives. ICES J Mar Sci 57(3):731–741. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2000.0737
  Article Google Scholar
• Taylor A (2005) Guidelines for evaluating the financial, ecological and social aspects of urban stormwater management measures to improve waterway health. Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Melbourne
  Google Scholar
• Thom RM (2000) Adpative managment of coastal ecosystem restoration projects. Ecol Eng 15:365–372. doi:10.1016/S0925-8574(00)00086-0
  Article Google Scholar
• Walters CJ (1986) Adaptive management of renewable resources. Macmillan, New York
  Google Scholar
• Walters CJ (2007) Is adaptive management helping to solve fisheries problems? Ambio 36(4):304–307. doi:10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[304:IAMHTS]2.0.CO;2
• Walters CJ, Hilborn R (1978) Ecological optimization and adaptive management. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 9:157–188. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2096747
• Ward E, Schriefer AE (1997) Dynamic scenarios: systems thinking meets scenario planning. In: Fahey L, Randall RM (eds) Learning from the future: competitive foresight scenarios. Wiley, New York
  Google Scholar
• Wattage P, Mardle S, Pascoe S (2005) Evaluation of the importance of fisheries management objectives using choice-experiments. Ecol Econ 55(1):85–95. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.016
  Article Google Scholar
• West D (2005) Vickers’ concept of ‘relationship-maintenance’ as an alternative to ‘goal-seeking’ models of organisation: a difference in the notion of control. Syst Pract Action Res 18:261–274. doi:10.1007/s0000.-005-4814-7
  Article Google Scholar
• Yin RK (1984) Case study research: design and methods. Sage, Newbury Park
  Google Scholar
• Zandstra, H. (1994) A case for setting common objectives for natural resource management. IN Goldsworthy P, Penning de Vries FWT (Ed.) Opportunities, use, and transfer of systems research methods in agriculture to developing countries. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
• Zandstra H (1994b) A case for setting common objectives for natural resource management. In: Goldsworthy P, de Vries PFWT (eds) Opportunities, use, and transfer of systems research methods in agriculture to developing countries. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
  Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
   Ingrid Elizabeth Van Putten & Ricardo Pascual
2. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
   Ingrid Elizabeth Van Putten
3. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
   Catherine Mary Dichmont, Leo Ximenes Cabral Dutra, Olivier Thébaud & Roy Aijun Deng
4. IFREMER, Centre Bretagne, ZI de la Pointe du Diable, 10070, 29280, Plouzané, France
   Olivier Thébaud
5. Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Primary Industries Building, 80 Ann St, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
   Eddie Jebreen
6. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2-68 Flinders Street, PO Box 1379, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
   Randall Owens & Mark Read
7. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 43 River Street, Mackay, QLD, 4740, Australia
   Carolyn Thompson

Authors

1. Ingrid Elizabeth Van Putten
2. Catherine Mary Dichmont
3. Leo Ximenes Cabral Dutra
4. Olivier Thébaud
5. Roy Aijun Deng
6. Eddie Jebreen
7. Randall Owens
8. Ricardo Pascual
9. Mark Read
10. Carolyn Thompson

Corresponding author

Correspondence toIngrid Elizabeth Van Putten.

Additional information

Editor: Jamie Pittock.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van Putten, I.E., Dichmont, C.M., Dutra, L.X.C. et al. Objectives for management of socio-ecological systems in the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia.Reg Environ Change 16, 1417–1431 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0867-1

Download citation

• Received: 22 February 2015
• Accepted: 20 August 2015
• Published: 26 September 2015
• Issue date: June 2016
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0867-1

Keywords