Democratic Management of an Ecosystem Under Threat

The People's Reefs

Kelly Dunning

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Hardback

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English

Anthem Press
11 July 2023

Public administration; Earth sciences

Series: Strategies for Sustainable Development Series

The conventional wisdom on coral reef management tells us that decentralised management, where the government shares power with local people, has both economic and ecological benefits. Three decades of research show that grassroots stakeholder-focused management allows communities to collaboratively and sustainably manage reefs (Berkes 2009; Ostrom 2011).

“The people” began demanding a seat at the table in the 1990s, with decentralised management even becoming a requirement for international donor-funded

development projects (Hara and Nielsen 2003). Nowadays, inclusion of

stakeholders, with governments even asking for their help is the norm. Much of the literature on coral reef management has documented the social and

ecological impacts of an increasingly participatory style of management all

over the world. But what we do not know is how this participatory management is changing to meet new and emerging threats such as climate change?

Climate change is increasingly recognised as the greatest threat to coral

reefs, outweighing local stressors such as overfishing. Similarly, global private multinational companies now hold concentrated power that rivals that

of many national governments. Companies’ decisions made without any input from local communities are increasingly impacting global ecosystems, especially coral reefs. A puzzle has emerged for decision-makers and

stakeholders alike: how can participatory management institutions respond to global environmental change? How does conservation policy enable (or

diminish) “the people” to have their voices heard despite power

differentials? This book poses some initial answers to this puzzle, drawing on the academic discipline of public policy.

We focus on democratic, participatory, stakeholder-driven forms of coral

reef management and how they are meeting new challenges in recent years. It begins with the story of grassroots activists in the Cayman Islands who

organized the first ever people’s referendum against the incredibly powerful

interests of the international cruise industry to prevent destruction of

local reefs. How did this social movement contest power so effectively? Then, our focus moves to another case where grassroots activists, specifically the “Reef Guardians” of South Florida, organised to fight reef destruction in American courts. This case is unique and interesting as the American Federal Government was damaging reefs, working at cross purposes with other branches

of the federal government tasked with protecting reefs. Why was the federal

government violating its own species protection laws? How did people’s

movements ensure accountability? Then, the book examines how subnational

jurisdictions, primarily states, manage immense coral reef resources throughan in-depth look at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This

sanctuary was the first stakeholder-driven marine protected area in the

United States, one that is rapidly adapting to global change. Finally, we

examine how one of the most important democratic institutions in the world, the United States Congress, is responding to global change on American reefs. Congress’ response to climate-driven coral bleaching is interesting because lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are coming together to make legislation on coral conservation despite the partisan rancor and gridlock that characterised the Trump regime.

By: Kelly Dunning
Imprint: Anthem Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781839986710
ISBN 10: 1839986719
Series: Strategies for Sustainable Development Series
Pages: 238
Publication Date: 11 July 2023
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Kelly Dunning is an assistant professor and Director of the Conservation Governance Lab at Auburn University. She holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is an expert on global coral reef management. Ryan Williamson is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Auburn University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and is an expert in congressional politics including policy, procedure, and elections. Amanda Alva graduated with her MS from the Conservation Governance Lab at Auburn University studying coral reef policy in the United States. She received her BSc in Marine Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently a Marine & Coastal Social Scientist at NOAA for CSS Inc. Sabine Bailey graduated with her MS from the Conservation Governance Lab at Auburn University studying coral reef management. She received her BSc in Biology from McGill University. She is currently an NOAA Digital Coast Fellow working with The Nature Conservancy and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Daniel Morris graduated with his MS from Conservation Governance Lab at Auburn University studying coral reef management. He received his BA from Auburn University in Political Science. He is currently a federal Presidential Management Fellow. Kasen Wally graduated with his MS from the Conservation Governance Lab at Auburn University studying coral reef management in Florida. He received his BSc in Environmental Science from Western Carolina University. He is currently a Coastal Resiliency Specialist with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Reviews for Democratic Management of an Ecosystem Under Threat: The People's Reefs

“This is an important piece of scholarship that applies a solid theoretical foundation to real world situations. The blending of theories from ecosystem services, conflict studies, and environmental governance within this book will speak to a wide array of readers, and I expect this book to be on the shelf of marine biologists and public policy experts alike.” — Joshua A. Drew, Assistant Professor of Vertebrate Conservation Biology, Department of Environmental Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry “Employing striking photos with a familiar style, Professor Dunning and her students lead the reader on a dive into the rugosities of coral reef governance. Using clear arguments supported by salient examples, one is invited to consider the strengths of participatory management, comprising local adaptations in the face of human insults. A must-read for all who would conserve the beauty and diversity of the Peoples’ reefs.” — Porter Hoagland, Emeritus Research Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution “Based on case studies from Florida and the Cayman Islands, Dunning and colleagues apply policy concepts and theories to understand (and make suggestions about) how to successfully govern coral reefs. This is a must-read for students and practitioners of coral reef governance as well as those interested in adaptive governance in general.” — Tomas Olivier, Assistant Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University