A Decision Framework to Protect Coral Reefs in Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "A Decision Framework to Protect Coral Reefs in Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico"

Annabelle Daniel
7 years ago
Views:

1 A Decision Framework to Protect Coral Reefs in Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico William S. Fisher John Carriger and Patricia Bradley U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development Ecosystems Services Research Program, Coral Reef Project EMECS9 Aug

2 Sediment and nutrient from Guánica Bay watershed impacts the vitality of coastal coral reefs Loss of reefs translates into lost ecosystem services such as fishing, tourism & recreation, and shoreline protection 2

3 Puerto Rico Lajas Valley Guánica Bay Reef Sediment originates from agricultural and municipal development along the mountain ridge and Lajas Valley

4 Different watersheds linked to Guánica Bay 4

5 Status of Decision Framework 2008 Watershed Management Plan (Center for Watershed Protection and NOAA Coral Reef Program) 2010 Decision workshop (Caribbean Coral Reef Institute and EPA) Today Framing the Decision Landscape Ultimately Revised Watershed Management Plan 5

6 Objectives of the Guánica Bay WMP 1. Develop a management strategy for improving and protecting the Guánica Bay watershed from nonpoint sources of pollution and from effects of land use changes stemming from residential, commercial and agricultural uses 2. Pilot a watershed management planning approach that might be appropriate for other Puerto Rico watersheds 6

7 Guanica Bay Watershed Management Plan Management Actions Rationale Objective Hydroseeding Cover Crops Shade-grown coffee Lagoon restoration Dredge reservoirs Reservoir releases Rainwater collection Riparian plantings Remove relic irrigation structures Pet waste cleanup Wetland treatment of sewage effluent Reduce physical/ chemical stressors in water Reduce biological stressors in water Maximize ecological integrity Coral reefs 7

8 Decision Workshop Presentation overviews on Status of coral reefs in Puerto Rico Proposed actions of the WMP Agricultural incentive plans Review and discussion of the proposed actions Introduced ecosystem services and DPSIR 8

9 Tourism & Recreation Ecosystem Services Benefits of Natural Systems Ecosystem Integrity Fishing Shoreline Protection Natural Products 9

10 Guanica Bay Watershed Management Plan Management Actions Rationale Objective Benefits Hydroseeding Cover Crops Shade-grown coffee Lagoon restoration Dredge reservoirs Reservoir releases Rainwater collection Riparian plantings Remove relic irrigation structures Reduce physical/ chemical stressors in water Tourism economy Fishing economy Pet waste cleanup Wetland treatment of sewage effluent Reduce biological stressors in water Maximize ecological integrity Coral reefs Shoreline protection Human health 10 10

11 DPSIR Framework 11

12 DPSIR Framework Fosters a systems approach Provides a tool to organize and catalog information Identifies information and issues important to stakeholders 12

13 Proposed Agriculture Actions To Protect Coral Reefs Proposed actions 13

14 Integrity of Terrestrial Habitats (inferred objective) 14

15 Maximize Property values (inferred objective) 15

16 Optimize Freshwater Delivery (inferred objective) 16

17 Additional inferred objectives Agriculture 17 Tourism Aesthetics Connectivity Agriculture Agriculture Fisheries Cultural benefits Project costs 17

18 Expanding the objectives Guanica Bay Watershed Management Plan Management Actions Rationale Objective Benefits Hydroseeding Cover Crops Shade-grown coffee Agriculture economy Lagoon restoration Dredge reservoirs Reservoir releases Rainwater collection Riparian plantings Remove relic irrigation structures (-) Reduce physical/ chemical stressors in water Maximize ecological integrity Streams & rivers Reservoirs Estuaries Drinking water supply Tourism economy Fishing economy Pet waste cleanup Wetland treatment of sewage effluent Reduce biological stressors in water Wetlands Coral reefs Shoreline protection Human health 18 18

19 Objectives and Decision Options Since the workshop we have attempted to. 1) Characterize the multiple objectives served in the plan and introduced at the workshop 2) Identify additional opportunities decision options to achieve the objectives 19

20 GBW Objectives Overall Objective: Improve the quality of life in the Guánica Bay Watershed Fundamental Objectives Maximize ecological integrity Maximize economic benefits Enhance social well-being Minimize threats to human health Meet legislative and political requirements Maximize learning opportunities 20

21 Maximize ecological integrity Ecosystem connectivity and linkages Terrestrial habitats Freshwater aquatic habitats Estuarine aquatic habitats Saltwater/marine habitats 21

22 Maximize ecological integrity Ecosystem connectivity and linkages Terrestrial habitats Freshwater aquatic habitats Estuarine aquatic habitats Saltwater/marine habitats 22

23 Specifying the objectives Maximize ecological integrity Maximize the ecological integrity of saltwater/marine habitats Maximize the integrity of open ocean habitats Maximize the integrity of coral reefs Benthic habitat Species diversity Abundance of rare species Trophic function Surface water habitat Species diversity Abundance of rare species Trophic function For coral species % hard coral cover, Coral diversity Living coral area For reef-associated organisms Species diversity Abundance of rare species Trophic function 23

24 Maximize ecological integrity Ecosystem connectivity and linkages Terrestrial habitats Freshwater aquatic habitats Coastal aquatic habitats Saltwater/marine habitats Diversity & abundance of diadromous fishes Adjacency of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds MEASURES Migratory bird species habitat Bird species diversity per land use area Rare bird species abundance (e.g., Puerto Rican nightjar) Terrestrial native species habitat Animal species diversity per land use area Abundance of rare species Riverine habitats Species diversity Abundance of rare species Trophic function Wetland habitats Waterfowl & wading bird abundance Fish & arthropod abundance Abundance of rare species (e.g., crested toad) Trophic function Reservoir habitats Species diversity Abundance of rare species Trophic function Mangrove habitats Canopy height Basal area Stem density Sessile community diversity & abundance Seagrass habitats Seagrass area Depth Density Residency index Lagoon habitats Fish & shellfish diversity Abundance of rare species Open ocean habitats Species diversity Abundance of rare species Trophic function For coral species % hard coral cover Coral diversity Living coral area For reef-associated organisms Species diversity Abundance of rare species Trophic function 24

25 Maximize economic benefits For industries For managers For residents Project costs ($) Grants ($) Property values ($) Grants/ investments ($) Grants/ investments ($) Tourism Fisheries Agriculture Visitor expenditures ($) Visitation Catch (kg) Value ($) Discount Volume Market benefits # of single day trips/yr # of multiple day trips/yr Yields (kg) % Difference Net value ($) % Difference 25

Means-Ends Networks Fundamental objectives describe the consequences that stakeholders care about Means objectives are important only for their influence on achievement of

26 Means-Ends Networks Fundamental objectives describe the consequences that stakeholders care about Means objectives are important only for their influence on achievement of the fundamental objectives A means-ends network clearly links existing options (means) back to the fundamental objectives (ends) illustrates trade-offs among decision options 26

27 Fundamental objectives GB WMP WMP means objectives Maximize ecological integrity Maximize economic benefits Reduce physical/chemical/ bacterial stressors from municipal loadings Enforce sediment erosion regulations Maximize planting of cleared home sites & dirt roadways Minimize pet waste Treat sewage effluent Enhance social well-being Restore lagoon marshes Dredge reservoirs/ sustain releases Minimize threats to human health Reduce physical/chemical stressors from agricultural loadings Treat stormwater outflows Encourage hydroseeding Enhance riparian planting/ cover crops Meet political and legislative requirements Conserve freshwater supplies Create incentives for shade grown coffee Remove relic irrigation structures Establish rainwater collection systems 27

28 Fundamental objectives GB WMP WMP means objectives Maximize ecological integrity Maximize economic benefits Enhance social well-being Minimize threats to human health Reduce physical/chemical/ bacterial stressors from municipal loadings Why is this important? How do I achieve that? Reduce physical/chemical stressors from agricultural loadings Enforce sediment erosion regulations Maximize planting of cleared home sites & dirt roadways Minimize pet waste Treat sewage effluent Restore lagoon marshes Dredge reservoirs/ sustain releases Treat stormwater outflows Encourage hydroseeding Enhance riparian planting/ cover crops Meet political and legislative requirements Conserve freshwater supplies Create incentives for shade grown coffee Remove relic irrigation structures Establish rainwater collection systems 28

29 Why bother? Advancing the Guanica Bay objectives allows us to better: engage stakeholder ideas and issues explain what is valued develop new options to meet objectives make meaningful trade-offs gauge performance produce an understandable rationale for recommendations 29

30 Future Directions Create a concise set of management options Refine the measures for GB objectives Evaluate inferred means and fundamental objectives with stakeholders & experts Construct additional objectives for decisions at the scale of individual projects 30

Sustainability Brief: Water Quality and Watershed Integrity

Sustainability Brief: Water Quality and Watershed Integrity Sustainability Brief: and Watershed Integrity New Jersey depends on water resources for the health of our people, the strength of our economy, and the vitality of our ecosystems. The quality of our water