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Assessing Sustainability of Coral Reef Ecosystem Services using a Spatially-Explicit Decision Support Tool
Citation:
Yee, S., J. Orlando, AND K. Vache. Assessing Sustainability of Coral Reef Ecosystem Services using a Spatially-Explicit Decision Support Tool. A Community on Ecosystem Services, Washington, DC, December 08 - 12, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
We have integrated models of watershed-based threats and coral reef dynamics with ecosystem service production function models into the spatially explicit decision support tool Envision. Inclusions of ecosystem services benefits can help provide a more balanced consideration of trade-offs when decisions are made in the watershed.
Description:
Forecasting and communicating the potential outcomes of decision options requires support tools that aid in evaluating alternative scenarios in a user-friendly context and that highlight variables relevant to the decision options and valuable stakeholders. Envision is a GIS-based tool for scenario-based community and regional planning and environmental assessments, created to allow examination of the nature and properties of coupled human and natural environmental systems. We have integrated models of watershed-based threats and coral reef dynamics with ecosystem service production function models into Envision to assess the sustainability of coral reef ecosystem services under alternative scenarios of watershed management. We focus on the Guánica Bay watershed in Southwestern Puerto Rico, where deforestation and drainage of a large lagoon have led to sediment, contaminant, and nutrient transport into the bay, resulting in declining quality in coral reefs. A watershed management plan is currently being implemented, however recent workshops with stakeholders indicated there is still a great deal of uncertainty on the degree to which proposed actions could benefit the local community. We apply the Envision tool to address two key areas of uncertainty: 1) the potential effects of sediment on coral reef condition and 2) the potential socio-economic benefits of watershed management on coral reef ecosystem services, including fisheries production, shoreline protection, and recreational opportunities. Inclusion of coastal ecosystem services and benefits is needed for a balanced consideration of trade-offs when decisions are made in the watershed.