The Coral Triangle in south-east Asia contains over three quarters of the total number of known c... more The Coral Triangle in south-east Asia contains over three quarters of the total number of known coral species and more than half of the world’s coral reefs, whilst providing resources to support the livelihoods of around 120 million people. The Wakatobi National Park is centrally located within this region, encompassing 13,000km2 and including a diversity of reefs, seagrass and mangrove habitats whilst also being home to around 100,000 people. The sustainable use of resources within the Wakatobi is therefore of significance with regard to both global marine conservation issues and the well-being of the resident population. Managing these resources necessitates a sound scientific understanding of both the natural environment and the human communities which depend upon them.
Drawing upon contributions from experts in the natural and social sciences, this book offers the first detailed insight into the status of the marine environment in the Wakatobi. It includes recent research focusing upon coral reef growth, loss and recovery, coastal fish assemblages, the connections between seagrass, mangroves and associated habitats and descriptions of the bird populations of the islands. The book enables the reader to appreciate the human dimension of resource usage through a detailed examination of resident communities’ socio-cultural and economic characteristics, most of which has received little prior attention in the literature.
Through integrating diverse strands of research, this book presents a holistic overview of the natural and human environment of this region which is utilised to identify priority areas for future research and conservation activity. The advent of the Coral Triangle Initiative serves to underline the timely nature of these recommendations and their relevance to resource management in this global epicentre of marine biodiversity. The book will be of interest to anyone with an interest in marine resources, including conservation practitioners, policy-makers, government authorities and students of marine ecology, conservation management, geography and related subjects.
Karimunjawa National Park (KNP) was among the first maritime areas recognized in Indonesia as bei... more Karimunjawa National Park (KNP) was among the first maritime areas recognized in Indonesia as being important for the conservation of marine biodiversity. Economic incentives in the KNP aim to decrease community dependency on wild-captured natural resources and achieve biodiversity and development objectives. Various participatory mechanisms facilitate community involvement in governance, whilst other incentives promoting awareness and support for fishery regulations are being delivered. Monitoring programs have demonstrated some ecological improvements and reductions in destructive fishing in the park over the past five years. The findings demonstrate that MPA policies and regulations can improve the social well-being and political power of fishing communities, particularly when appropriate economic, legal and participatory incentives are provided.
This study presents an analysis of marine resource management activities designed to ameliorate c... more This study presents an analysis of marine resource management activities designed to ameliorate concerns over fish stocks, food and livelihood insecurity in the coastal Asia Pacific region, with a specific focus on the area encompassed by the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF). Firstly, the study explores how the CTI-CFF framing of food insecurity as symptomatic of economic deficiencies at the household level reflects the broader neoliberal conservation agenda driving the CTI-CFF and serves to legitimate the latter as the natural authority for intervention. Secondly, the paper uses an example of local level fishery management to demonstrate how the logic of neoliberalism translates to regulations which fail to recognise social and political complexities confronting fishers, thereby exacerbating the precarity of food and livelihood security in these communities. Thirdly, the paper contrasts the Western scientific emphasis on maintaining food security through managing coral reef fisheries with evidence from Indonesia and the Philippines which demonstrates the much larger contribution from pelagic fisheries and aquaculture to food security. The paper concludes with a call for research and aid-funded interventions on fishery management, livelihoods and food security to better reflect the needs of coastal people in the Asia-Pacific region, rather than the values commonly espoused by Western scientists and conservationists.
Guatemala’s rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services ... more Guatemala’s rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services to local residents and the national economy through artisanal and commercial fisheries, aquaculture and, to a lesser extent, tourism. As in many other countries, national policies emphasise the significance of marine conservation and marine resources, primarily through implementing marine protected areas (MPAs). However, this assumes that governance, as reflected in legal, institutional and organizational frameworks, political capacity and human resources is sufficiently developed to ensure MPAs meet these goals. These issues are explored through presenting the first detailed analysis of coastal and marine governance in Guatemala. The research highlights a range of barriers to good governance which restrict the extent to which MPAs can function effectively. Recommendations are made which can capitalise upon the potential for locally managed marine areas as a means to facilitate the improved governance of coastal and marine resources in Guatemala.
While domestic solar microgeneration installations have increased in popularity, there is potenti... more While domestic solar microgeneration installations have increased in popularity, there is potential for their adoption to slow as financial incentives are reduced or phased out. This study uses a postal survey of 362 solar adopters in Western Australia to identify areas of policy improvement for the adoption of domestic solar systems. Research included quantitative analysis of Likert-type statements and analysis of qualitative comments by survey respondents, including testing the validity of inferences in comments using publicly-available data. While the vast majority of respondents were satisfied with their systems, satisfaction rates were lower for consumers not receiving the premium feed-in tariff and where information on systems was not self-sourced. Consumers considered governments to be untrustworthy and information provided by industry was perceived as inconsistent and inaccessible. Consumers felt they did not receive a fair price for electricity exported to the network and feared that changes in utility prices could render their investment uneconomical. Concerns regarding members of industry may be allayed by certification schemes, but these remain voluntary and limited in effectiveness. These findings underscore the need for increased government activity in providing independent information to consumers and regulating the solar industry, including commitments to long term policies and certification schemes.
Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, Apr 7, 2015
Peer review feedback, developed to assist students with increasing the quality of group reports a... more Peer review feedback, developed to assist students with increasing the quality of group reports and developing peer review skills, was added to a master’s level Climate Change Policy and Planning unit. A pre- and post-survey was conducted to determine whether students found the process a valuable learning opportunity: 87% of students responding to the post-review survey indicated they saw benefit in both developing and receiving peer review feedback. Peer review design minimising the potential for plagiarism resulted in low levels of student concern surrounding plagiarism. Marks allocated by students were valid (consistent with the lecturer) and were generally reliable; however, distribution of marks had a higher variance where group report quality was low. Training on completing the peer review template could result in more reliable feedback. Consistent with the literature, the feedback developed during the peer review process focused on style and presentation preferentially to content. Seven out of eight group reports improved between report submissions, with all groups responding to peer review feedback. Peer review feedback and changes made to group reports indicated students had limited capacity to judge the quality of referencing and critical analysis.
The world's remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically re... more The world's remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically remote areas which are frequently also inhabited by stateless peoples, who brill.com/tilr 82 Clifton ET AL. tilburg law review 19 (2014) 81-89 1 Helen E Fox, Carrie S Soltanoff, Michael B Mascia, Kelly M Haisfield, Alfonso V Lombana, Christopher R Pyke and Louisa Wood, 'Explaining Global Patterns and Trends in Marine Protected Area (MPA) Development' (2012) 36 Marine Policy 1131.
... 11 3 DRIVERS OF CHANGE AFFECTING THE INDUSTRIES OF THE ... The outcome has been a major expan... more ... 11 3 DRIVERS OF CHANGE AFFECTING THE INDUSTRIES OF THE ... The outcome has been a major expansion of production capacity, with concomitant increases in shipping and port ... exports of key commodities from the North West, particularly petroleum products and ...
Guatemala's rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services ... more Guatemala's rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services to local residents and the national economy through artisanal and commercial fisheries, aquaculture, port exports and, to a lesser extent, tourism. As in many other countries, national policies emphasise the significance of marine conservation and marine resources, primarily through implementing marine protected areas (MPAs). However, this assumes that governance, as reflected in legal, institutional and organizational frameworks, political capacity and human resources is sufficiently developed to ensure MPAs meet these goals. These issues are explored through presenting the first detailed analysis of coastal and marine governance in Guatemala. The research highlights a range of barriers to good governance which restrict the extent to which MPAs can function effectively. Recommendations are made which can capitalise upon the potential for locally managed marine areas as a means to facilitate the improved governance of coastal and marine resources in Guatemala.
Environment and Society: Advances in Research, Nov 1, 2014
The flow of ecosystem services from coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests sustains t... more The flow of ecosystem services from coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests sustains the livelihoods of billions of people worldwide. Faced with the global degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems, policy makers are increasingly focusing on ecosystem service valuation techniques to encourage conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Here we provide a review and synthesis of the available information on economic valuation techniques as applied to tropical marine habitats. Our study demonstrates the high variability and lack of consistency in outcomes from these studies. We conclude that, if the concept of ecosystem goods and services is to make a positive contribution towards managing the impacts of humans on the environment, then economic valuation approaches must reflect the inherent limitations of economic theory whilst emphasizing the complexity and heterogeneity of the natural environment and human decision making.
The need for improved stewardship of coastal and marine resources is evident worldwide. However, ... more The need for improved stewardship of coastal and marine resources is evident worldwide. However, complex ecosystem dynamics, institutional inertia, and budgetary constraints impede such action. This study explores how networks of change-oriented individuals or ‘institutional entrepreneurs’ can introduce new types of human-environment interaction. The focus is on investigating the interplay between the strategies of institutional entrepreneurs and broader system dynamics that shape the context in which they are working, and possible impacts of institutional entrepreneurship on marine governance. We explore these issues in the context of the Wakatobi National Park in eastern Indonesia. We suggest that creating links between different social spheres, such as between marine resource management and spirituality or between marine resource management and education, may accelerate the development of a new ecosystem stewardship. We further that the use of media has significant power to show alternative futures, but that media may also serve to objectify certain resource users and increase the complexity of marine resource management. , In general, institutional entrepreneurs play an important role in capturing and managing opportunity to open up space for experimentation and novel ideas, for example by linking their ideas to broader political priorities. Yet, such strategies bear the risk of institutional capture. Finally, institutional entrepreneurs sometimes have vested interests in certain solutions that may forsake experimentation toward a sustainable future.
Australian Journal of Public Administration, Apr 1, 2014
A Review of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target is used to contribute to the concept of negative ... more A Review of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target is used to contribute to the concept of negative externalities in consultation processes, including wasted investment by stakeholders and reduced investor confidence. The findings indicate that there is a need to establish clear consultation objectives. The paper concludes with a model for consultation agents to consider when initiating a consultation process. The model stresses the need to make objectives of the consultation process transparent to stakeholders, including the extent to which the outcomes of consultation are likely to result in changes to policy. Consultation agents and policy developers should seek to identify potential negative externalities at the outset of any consultation process, and address these within the consultation framework where possible.
Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) mandates investment in renewable electricity generation... more Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) mandates investment in renewable electricity generation through a renewable energy certificate market. A legislated national consultative review of the RET was carried out in 2012, resulting in 8,660 submissions. Respondents were invited to comment on the value of the legislated target, including whether the legislated target should be a fixed GWh target or a fixed policy-based percentage-of-demand target, and the impact of review processes on the renewable energy industry. This paper presents the first analysis of submissions and evaluates their implications for the future of this policy. There was a consistent alignment of opinion amongst respondents, with industry and fossil-fuel generation/retailer groups opposing the RET objectives, whilst these were supported by NGOs and the renewable sector. However, most respondents favoured maintaining the overall goal of providing 20% renewable electricity generation by 2020. Concerns were raised by most groups of respondents regarding policy continuity and excessive reviewing procedures. In its response to the review, the Climate Change Authority made a total of 34 recommendations, 18 maintaining the status quo. Only six recommendations were endorsed by the Australian Government that would result in changes to the scheme. It is concluded that such review processes can be significantly harmful to maintaining stability and certainty in an industry requiring long-term commitment for investments, and that the Australian Government continues to favour the status quo in responding to consultative review processes relating to renewable energy policies.
The world’s remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically re... more The world’s remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically remote areas which are frequently also inhabited by stateless peoples, who are then subjected to policies expressly designed to exclude or restrict local livelihood activities. This situation has been exacerbated by the tendency for international non-governmental organisations to join forces with the State to promote their conservation agenda. Whilst the political and environmental implications of this trend have been explored within the academic literature, the consequences for the survival of disempowered and marginalised stateless communities have received little attention. This article will focus upon stateless peoples enmeshed within a policy framework influenced by globalised environmental priorities and directed by international conservation NGOs in South-East Asia. It will explore how stateless peoples’ capacities are undermined by models of ‘participation’ used by these actors and underline the importance of recognising stateless peoples’ rights and responsibilities in marine natural resource management
The Coral Triangle in south-east Asia contains over three quarters of the total number of known c... more The Coral Triangle in south-east Asia contains over three quarters of the total number of known coral species and more than half of the world’s coral reefs, whilst providing resources to support the livelihoods of around 120 million people. The Wakatobi National Park is centrally located within this region, encompassing 13,000km2 and including a diversity of reefs, seagrass and mangrove habitats whilst also being home to around 100,000 people. The sustainable use of resources within the Wakatobi is therefore of significance with regard to both global marine conservation issues and the well-being of the resident population. Managing these resources necessitates a sound scientific understanding of both the natural environment and the human communities which depend upon them.
Drawing upon contributions from experts in the natural and social sciences, this book offers the first detailed insight into the status of the marine environment in the Wakatobi. It includes recent research focusing upon coral reef growth, loss and recovery, coastal fish assemblages, the connections between seagrass, mangroves and associated habitats and descriptions of the bird populations of the islands. The book enables the reader to appreciate the human dimension of resource usage through a detailed examination of resident communities’ socio-cultural and economic characteristics, most of which has received little prior attention in the literature.
Through integrating diverse strands of research, this book presents a holistic overview of the natural and human environment of this region which is utilised to identify priority areas for future research and conservation activity. The advent of the Coral Triangle Initiative serves to underline the timely nature of these recommendations and their relevance to resource management in this global epicentre of marine biodiversity. The book will be of interest to anyone with an interest in marine resources, including conservation practitioners, policy-makers, government authorities and students of marine ecology, conservation management, geography and related subjects.
Karimunjawa National Park (KNP) was among the first maritime areas recognized in Indonesia as bei... more Karimunjawa National Park (KNP) was among the first maritime areas recognized in Indonesia as being important for the conservation of marine biodiversity. Economic incentives in the KNP aim to decrease community dependency on wild-captured natural resources and achieve biodiversity and development objectives. Various participatory mechanisms facilitate community involvement in governance, whilst other incentives promoting awareness and support for fishery regulations are being delivered. Monitoring programs have demonstrated some ecological improvements and reductions in destructive fishing in the park over the past five years. The findings demonstrate that MPA policies and regulations can improve the social well-being and political power of fishing communities, particularly when appropriate economic, legal and participatory incentives are provided.
This study presents an analysis of marine resource management activities designed to ameliorate c... more This study presents an analysis of marine resource management activities designed to ameliorate concerns over fish stocks, food and livelihood insecurity in the coastal Asia Pacific region, with a specific focus on the area encompassed by the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF). Firstly, the study explores how the CTI-CFF framing of food insecurity as symptomatic of economic deficiencies at the household level reflects the broader neoliberal conservation agenda driving the CTI-CFF and serves to legitimate the latter as the natural authority for intervention. Secondly, the paper uses an example of local level fishery management to demonstrate how the logic of neoliberalism translates to regulations which fail to recognise social and political complexities confronting fishers, thereby exacerbating the precarity of food and livelihood security in these communities. Thirdly, the paper contrasts the Western scientific emphasis on maintaining food security through managing coral reef fisheries with evidence from Indonesia and the Philippines which demonstrates the much larger contribution from pelagic fisheries and aquaculture to food security. The paper concludes with a call for research and aid-funded interventions on fishery management, livelihoods and food security to better reflect the needs of coastal people in the Asia-Pacific region, rather than the values commonly espoused by Western scientists and conservationists.
Guatemala’s rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services ... more Guatemala’s rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services to local residents and the national economy through artisanal and commercial fisheries, aquaculture and, to a lesser extent, tourism. As in many other countries, national policies emphasise the significance of marine conservation and marine resources, primarily through implementing marine protected areas (MPAs). However, this assumes that governance, as reflected in legal, institutional and organizational frameworks, political capacity and human resources is sufficiently developed to ensure MPAs meet these goals. These issues are explored through presenting the first detailed analysis of coastal and marine governance in Guatemala. The research highlights a range of barriers to good governance which restrict the extent to which MPAs can function effectively. Recommendations are made which can capitalise upon the potential for locally managed marine areas as a means to facilitate the improved governance of coastal and marine resources in Guatemala.
While domestic solar microgeneration installations have increased in popularity, there is potenti... more While domestic solar microgeneration installations have increased in popularity, there is potential for their adoption to slow as financial incentives are reduced or phased out. This study uses a postal survey of 362 solar adopters in Western Australia to identify areas of policy improvement for the adoption of domestic solar systems. Research included quantitative analysis of Likert-type statements and analysis of qualitative comments by survey respondents, including testing the validity of inferences in comments using publicly-available data. While the vast majority of respondents were satisfied with their systems, satisfaction rates were lower for consumers not receiving the premium feed-in tariff and where information on systems was not self-sourced. Consumers considered governments to be untrustworthy and information provided by industry was perceived as inconsistent and inaccessible. Consumers felt they did not receive a fair price for electricity exported to the network and feared that changes in utility prices could render their investment uneconomical. Concerns regarding members of industry may be allayed by certification schemes, but these remain voluntary and limited in effectiveness. These findings underscore the need for increased government activity in providing independent information to consumers and regulating the solar industry, including commitments to long term policies and certification schemes.
Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, Apr 7, 2015
Peer review feedback, developed to assist students with increasing the quality of group reports a... more Peer review feedback, developed to assist students with increasing the quality of group reports and developing peer review skills, was added to a master’s level Climate Change Policy and Planning unit. A pre- and post-survey was conducted to determine whether students found the process a valuable learning opportunity: 87% of students responding to the post-review survey indicated they saw benefit in both developing and receiving peer review feedback. Peer review design minimising the potential for plagiarism resulted in low levels of student concern surrounding plagiarism. Marks allocated by students were valid (consistent with the lecturer) and were generally reliable; however, distribution of marks had a higher variance where group report quality was low. Training on completing the peer review template could result in more reliable feedback. Consistent with the literature, the feedback developed during the peer review process focused on style and presentation preferentially to content. Seven out of eight group reports improved between report submissions, with all groups responding to peer review feedback. Peer review feedback and changes made to group reports indicated students had limited capacity to judge the quality of referencing and critical analysis.
The world's remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically re... more The world's remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically remote areas which are frequently also inhabited by stateless peoples, who brill.com/tilr 82 Clifton ET AL. tilburg law review 19 (2014) 81-89 1 Helen E Fox, Carrie S Soltanoff, Michael B Mascia, Kelly M Haisfield, Alfonso V Lombana, Christopher R Pyke and Louisa Wood, 'Explaining Global Patterns and Trends in Marine Protected Area (MPA) Development' (2012) 36 Marine Policy 1131.
... 11 3 DRIVERS OF CHANGE AFFECTING THE INDUSTRIES OF THE ... The outcome has been a major expan... more ... 11 3 DRIVERS OF CHANGE AFFECTING THE INDUSTRIES OF THE ... The outcome has been a major expansion of production capacity, with concomitant increases in shipping and port ... exports of key commodities from the North West, particularly petroleum products and ...
Guatemala's rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services ... more Guatemala's rich coastal and marine biodiversity provides essential ecosystem goods and services to local residents and the national economy through artisanal and commercial fisheries, aquaculture, port exports and, to a lesser extent, tourism. As in many other countries, national policies emphasise the significance of marine conservation and marine resources, primarily through implementing marine protected areas (MPAs). However, this assumes that governance, as reflected in legal, institutional and organizational frameworks, political capacity and human resources is sufficiently developed to ensure MPAs meet these goals. These issues are explored through presenting the first detailed analysis of coastal and marine governance in Guatemala. The research highlights a range of barriers to good governance which restrict the extent to which MPAs can function effectively. Recommendations are made which can capitalise upon the potential for locally managed marine areas as a means to facilitate the improved governance of coastal and marine resources in Guatemala.
Environment and Society: Advances in Research, Nov 1, 2014
The flow of ecosystem services from coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests sustains t... more The flow of ecosystem services from coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests sustains the livelihoods of billions of people worldwide. Faced with the global degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems, policy makers are increasingly focusing on ecosystem service valuation techniques to encourage conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Here we provide a review and synthesis of the available information on economic valuation techniques as applied to tropical marine habitats. Our study demonstrates the high variability and lack of consistency in outcomes from these studies. We conclude that, if the concept of ecosystem goods and services is to make a positive contribution towards managing the impacts of humans on the environment, then economic valuation approaches must reflect the inherent limitations of economic theory whilst emphasizing the complexity and heterogeneity of the natural environment and human decision making.
The need for improved stewardship of coastal and marine resources is evident worldwide. However, ... more The need for improved stewardship of coastal and marine resources is evident worldwide. However, complex ecosystem dynamics, institutional inertia, and budgetary constraints impede such action. This study explores how networks of change-oriented individuals or ‘institutional entrepreneurs’ can introduce new types of human-environment interaction. The focus is on investigating the interplay between the strategies of institutional entrepreneurs and broader system dynamics that shape the context in which they are working, and possible impacts of institutional entrepreneurship on marine governance. We explore these issues in the context of the Wakatobi National Park in eastern Indonesia. We suggest that creating links between different social spheres, such as between marine resource management and spirituality or between marine resource management and education, may accelerate the development of a new ecosystem stewardship. We further that the use of media has significant power to show alternative futures, but that media may also serve to objectify certain resource users and increase the complexity of marine resource management. , In general, institutional entrepreneurs play an important role in capturing and managing opportunity to open up space for experimentation and novel ideas, for example by linking their ideas to broader political priorities. Yet, such strategies bear the risk of institutional capture. Finally, institutional entrepreneurs sometimes have vested interests in certain solutions that may forsake experimentation toward a sustainable future.
Australian Journal of Public Administration, Apr 1, 2014
A Review of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target is used to contribute to the concept of negative ... more A Review of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target is used to contribute to the concept of negative externalities in consultation processes, including wasted investment by stakeholders and reduced investor confidence. The findings indicate that there is a need to establish clear consultation objectives. The paper concludes with a model for consultation agents to consider when initiating a consultation process. The model stresses the need to make objectives of the consultation process transparent to stakeholders, including the extent to which the outcomes of consultation are likely to result in changes to policy. Consultation agents and policy developers should seek to identify potential negative externalities at the outset of any consultation process, and address these within the consultation framework where possible.
Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) mandates investment in renewable electricity generation... more Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) mandates investment in renewable electricity generation through a renewable energy certificate market. A legislated national consultative review of the RET was carried out in 2012, resulting in 8,660 submissions. Respondents were invited to comment on the value of the legislated target, including whether the legislated target should be a fixed GWh target or a fixed policy-based percentage-of-demand target, and the impact of review processes on the renewable energy industry. This paper presents the first analysis of submissions and evaluates their implications for the future of this policy. There was a consistent alignment of opinion amongst respondents, with industry and fossil-fuel generation/retailer groups opposing the RET objectives, whilst these were supported by NGOs and the renewable sector. However, most respondents favoured maintaining the overall goal of providing 20% renewable electricity generation by 2020. Concerns were raised by most groups of respondents regarding policy continuity and excessive reviewing procedures. In its response to the review, the Climate Change Authority made a total of 34 recommendations, 18 maintaining the status quo. Only six recommendations were endorsed by the Australian Government that would result in changes to the scheme. It is concluded that such review processes can be significantly harmful to maintaining stability and certainty in an industry requiring long-term commitment for investments, and that the Australian Government continues to favour the status quo in responding to consultative review processes relating to renewable energy policies.
The world’s remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically re... more The world’s remaining biodiversity-rich regions are often located in borderlands or physically remote areas which are frequently also inhabited by stateless peoples, who are then subjected to policies expressly designed to exclude or restrict local livelihood activities. This situation has been exacerbated by the tendency for international non-governmental organisations to join forces with the State to promote their conservation agenda. Whilst the political and environmental implications of this trend have been explored within the academic literature, the consequences for the survival of disempowered and marginalised stateless communities have received little attention. This article will focus upon stateless peoples enmeshed within a policy framework influenced by globalised environmental priorities and directed by international conservation NGOs in South-East Asia. It will explore how stateless peoples’ capacities are undermined by models of ‘participation’ used by these actors and underline the importance of recognising stateless peoples’ rights and responsibilities in marine natural resource management
Incorporating values, views and expectations held by local stakeholders is fundamental to the man... more Incorporating values, views and expectations held by local stakeholders is fundamental to the management of marine protected areas (MPAs), particularly in small islands where MPAs are central assets of the local economy and society. In this study, we used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to understand what drives the use of marine and coastal areas, to explore local and expert views of the marine environment and its conservation, and ultimately to determine approaches to MPA management that best reflect local needs and desires. The study focused on Corvo Island, which includes the largest coastal MPA in the Azores Archipelago, yet remains without a current management plan. Evidence of a strong ocean-oriented cultural identity, with a clear gender dichotomy in the patterns of marine and coastal use, was found. Participants recognized the strategic value of the marine environment for the island’s economy, and strategies to promote the sustainable use of marine resources based on local values and views were suggested. There was a widespread perception of declining species abundance, ecological unbalances caused by biodiversity loss, and significant changes from the status quo with regards to the maritime environment. This was reflected in a common recognition of marine ecosystem vulnerability, yet the local community and stakeholders presented different views on what the main threats were. In any case, we found strong local support for marine conservation initiatives, particularly MPAs. However, stakeholders differed in their views on MPA goals and outcomes, reflecting negative perceptions on the government’s capacity to manage the Corvo MPA. Based on these results, we discuss implications for MPA implementation, particularly for the development of specific MPA goals shared by all stakeholders.
The Bajau, also referred to as Bajo, Badjau or Sama, represent one of the most widely dispersed i... more The Bajau, also referred to as Bajo, Badjau or Sama, represent one of the most widely dispersed indigenous groups in south-east Asia (Sather, 1995). Originating in the southern Philippines, they are thought to have spread south and west to occupy coastal areas of north-east Borneo and eastern Indonesia by the time of European contact (Sopher, 1965; Nimmo, 1972). There are two related groups in south-east Asia, consisting of the Moken in the islands of the Mergui Archipelago of southern Myanmar and the Orang Laut who are present along the western Thai-Malay peninsula to the Riau Archipelago.
All three groups are characterized by a history of maritime nomadism, living predominantly aboard boats in extended family groups with no permanent settlement or land-based territoriality. This has given rise to the common, if potentially misleading, appellation ‘sea nomads’ (Sopher, 1965). Estimates of Bajau numbers vary, but recent census data indicates a population of around one million, approximately 200,000 of whom are in Indonesia (Nagatsu, 2007). However, there are very few remaining mobile Bajau or other ‘sea nomad’ communities today, with political and economic drivers since the colonial period resulting in processes of sedentarisation in the Bajau, Orang Laut and, to a lesser extent, the Moken.
As these formerly nomadic communities have become increasingly assimilated into mainstream south-east Asian societies, there have been significant impacts on individual and community health and wellbeing. For example, Bajau communities in Malaysia find themselves often deprived of citizenship rights, leading to exclusion from education and welfare systems. In both Malaysia and the Philippines, Bajau settlements are often characterised by deprivation, poverty and an increased prevalence of drug dependency among younger Bajau. Throughout south-east Asia, Bajau, Orang Laut and the Moken are subject to increased State regulation and control over marine resources, forcing changes to lifestyles and fishing practices which may in turn lead to longer term problems of community stability.
The island of Sulawesi accounts for almost half of the Indonesian Bajau population, although this group represents only 0.6% of the population in Sulawesi. The Wakatobi National Park in south-east Sulawesi is one of seven such protected areas within Indonesia and encompasses approximately 100,000 people, with Bajau villages accounting for around 5% of this total. The Wakatobi is also of interest as it occupies a high profile in the Coral Triangle Initiative. This international conservation programme inaugurated in 2009 includes amongst its aims the designation of networks of marine protected areas based upon model sites such as the Wakatobi (Clifton, 2009).
This chapter examines how Bajau communities of eastern Indonesia are adapting to ongoing pressures relating to their lifestyle and resource usage, demonstrating that past strategies to counter these pressures are no longer possible. The text draws upon the wider Bajau literature, and is exemplified through particular reference to the Indonesian Bajau village of Sampela, which contains approximately 1200 residents and is located off the north-east coast of Kaledupa Island. Despite their inherent resilience, it is shown that these communities are susceptible to new drivers of change operating across South-east Asia and their continued existence is by no means assured.
Coral reefs are abundant features of tropical ocean environments. They are among the most biodive... more Coral reefs are abundant features of tropical ocean environments. They are among the most biodiverse and economically important ecosystems on the planet and are vital to numerous human societies in the Asia‐Pacific region. In fact, much of the world’s coral reef coasts are located off the coast of ADB member states in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. Coral reefs form an integral part of many island and coastline ecosystems and their health and function determine to a large extent the resilience of coastal communities. However, coral reefs are in peril because of local and global causes. Local causes such as pressure from growing population, tourism and economic development in combination with a lack of effective management of these pressures have led to degradation of reef health. The consequence is that coral reefs may no longer be able to fulfill their many ecosystem services, which makes the coastal zone and its population more vulnerable to hazards. This is a vicious cycle which needs to be halted, also because global causes such as climate change pose important additional pressures on these ecosystems. In order to effectively manage the consequences of these numerous changes to reefs on human populations, we need the capability to reliably predict the impact of coastal hazards such as coastal erosion, inundation and groundwater salinization on the short‐term scale of natural events such as tsunamis, typhoons and other weather events. As this white paper shows, some of the elements to achieve this capability are now present, but essential aspects and especially the integration of knowledge is currently lacking. Likewise, we lack the capability to connect reef health, global climate change and the reefs’ protective function which are essential in order to make long‐term predictions of the development of low‐lying islands and coastal areas. Both these capabilities are important in order to design effective risk‐informed management plans in terms of prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures, so that the vulnerability of the coastal zone can be reduced.
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Books by Julian Clifton
Drawing upon contributions from experts in the natural and social sciences, this book offers the first detailed insight into the status of the marine environment in the Wakatobi. It includes recent research focusing upon coral reef growth, loss and recovery, coastal fish assemblages, the connections between seagrass, mangroves and associated habitats and descriptions of the bird populations of the islands. The book enables the reader to appreciate the human dimension of resource usage through a detailed examination of resident communities’ socio-cultural and economic characteristics, most of which has received little prior attention in the literature.
Through integrating diverse strands of research, this book presents a holistic overview of the natural and human environment of this region which is utilised to identify priority areas for future research and conservation activity. The advent of the Coral Triangle Initiative serves to underline the timely nature of these recommendations and their relevance to resource management in this global epicentre of marine biodiversity. The book will be of interest to anyone with an interest in marine resources, including conservation practitioners, policy-makers, government authorities and students of marine ecology, conservation management, geography and related subjects.
Papers by Julian Clifton
Drawing upon contributions from experts in the natural and social sciences, this book offers the first detailed insight into the status of the marine environment in the Wakatobi. It includes recent research focusing upon coral reef growth, loss and recovery, coastal fish assemblages, the connections between seagrass, mangroves and associated habitats and descriptions of the bird populations of the islands. The book enables the reader to appreciate the human dimension of resource usage through a detailed examination of resident communities’ socio-cultural and economic characteristics, most of which has received little prior attention in the literature.
Through integrating diverse strands of research, this book presents a holistic overview of the natural and human environment of this region which is utilised to identify priority areas for future research and conservation activity. The advent of the Coral Triangle Initiative serves to underline the timely nature of these recommendations and their relevance to resource management in this global epicentre of marine biodiversity. The book will be of interest to anyone with an interest in marine resources, including conservation practitioners, policy-makers, government authorities and students of marine ecology, conservation management, geography and related subjects.
All three groups are characterized by a history of maritime nomadism, living predominantly aboard boats in extended family groups with no permanent settlement or land-based territoriality. This has given rise to the common, if potentially misleading, appellation ‘sea nomads’ (Sopher, 1965). Estimates of Bajau numbers vary, but recent census data indicates a population of around one million, approximately 200,000 of whom are in Indonesia (Nagatsu, 2007). However, there are very few remaining mobile Bajau or other ‘sea nomad’ communities today, with political and economic drivers since the colonial period resulting in processes of sedentarisation in the Bajau, Orang Laut and, to a lesser extent, the Moken.
As these formerly nomadic communities have become increasingly assimilated into mainstream south-east Asian societies, there have been significant impacts on individual and community health and wellbeing. For example, Bajau communities in Malaysia find themselves often deprived of citizenship rights, leading to exclusion from education and welfare systems. In both Malaysia and the Philippines, Bajau settlements are often characterised by deprivation, poverty and an increased prevalence of drug dependency among younger Bajau. Throughout south-east Asia, Bajau, Orang Laut and the Moken are subject to increased State regulation and control over marine resources, forcing changes to lifestyles and fishing practices which may in turn lead to longer term problems of community stability.
The island of Sulawesi accounts for almost half of the Indonesian Bajau population, although this group represents only 0.6% of the population in Sulawesi. The Wakatobi National Park in south-east Sulawesi is one of seven such protected areas within Indonesia and encompasses approximately 100,000 people, with Bajau villages accounting for around 5% of this total. The Wakatobi is also of interest as it occupies a high profile in the Coral Triangle Initiative. This international conservation programme inaugurated in 2009 includes amongst its aims the designation of networks of marine protected areas based upon model sites such as the Wakatobi (Clifton, 2009).
This chapter examines how Bajau communities of eastern Indonesia are adapting to ongoing pressures relating to their lifestyle and resource usage, demonstrating that past strategies to counter these pressures are no longer possible. The text draws upon the wider Bajau literature, and is exemplified through particular reference to the Indonesian Bajau village of Sampela, which contains approximately 1200 residents and is located off the north-east coast of Kaledupa Island. Despite their inherent resilience, it is shown that these communities are susceptible to new drivers of change operating across South-east Asia and their continued existence is by no means assured.