An Integrated Methodology for the Management of Coral Reef Systems: a Beloi (Timor-Leste) case study

This study is about human-coral reef interaction. The aim of my research is to combine scientific work on reef ecosystems with economic and community concerns to help solve environmental, economic and social problems by achieving a more informed foundation for human use of the reef and surrounding marine resources. The thesis involves the outlining and testing of an appropriate methodology for resilience planning and management/policy development with a particular focus on coral reefs. It centres on a case study of reef-human use and community development concerns in the village of Beloi, Ataúro Island, Timor-Leste (East-Timor). The case study illustrates the application of the methodological ideas developed in the thesis. The central outcome of the study is the integration of concepts from across an array of ecological, social and economic areas. The methodological synthesis incorporates the ideas of resilience and complexity based on systems thinking through feedback loops encompassing people and natural systems. The methodology developed was tested in Beloi, where the villagers are faced with a declining reef fisheries resource. The local people were encouraged to better conceptualise their whole situation and consider other sources of foodstuff, income and industry, such as tourism and better marketing, exploit and storage of their fish catch. System dynamics modelling and scenario planning were the learning tools utilised to test policies based on fishing and tourism growth. A shared picture of reef/community system was developed with the villagers, allowing more sophisticated judgments about options for marine resources use and conservation, and ultimate human and ecological sustainability of their region. The major contribution of the present work is the articulation of a methodological framework to facilitate community-science interaction. Of particular significance is the explicit focus on the connection of social-ecological dimensions that pertain to coral reef resilience concerns