A Model Marine Spatial Plan for the Buccoo Reef Marine Park Based on Socioeconomic, Spatio-temporal and Ecological Assessments
Jul 22, 2024 | Views:1266 |
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Office of Research, Impact and Postgraduate Studies
presents an Oral Defence titled
A Model Marine Spatial Plan for the Buccoo Reef Marine Park Based on Socioeconomic, Spatio-temporal and Ecological Assessments
by Mrs Shivonne Peters-McPherson
The declining health of coral reef communities, high incidents of user conflicts and unregulated human use is indicative of inefficient management in the Buccoo Reef Marine Park (BRMP).
Socio-economic activities are widespread but have not been fully studied or mapped spatially. Additionally, limited data exists on the terrestrial and marine temporal changes, and how these changes should shape future management strategies. Though popular worldwide and recommended for use locally since 1995, management tools, such as Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) or zoning, have not been implemented in the Tobago landscape.
This project sought to develop a model MSP based on three critical components: socioeconomic, spatio-temporal and ecological. Utilising methods such as researcher observation, questionnaires and interviews, socio-economic activities were studied and mapped. Spatio-temporal changes were mapped using GIS techniques and included assessments of land use changes, coastline changes and changes to marine features or habitats. Ecological health in the study area was assessed through fish, coral and benthic surveys using AGRRA protocols.
The socioeconomic assessment revealed three (3) main stakeholder groups and seven (7) socioeconomic activities, many in the same location, occurring in the BRMP. The spatio-temporal assessment revealed significant increases in land use categories as well as accretion and erosion in several areas. The ecological assessment identified coral reef habitats as supporting the highest fish and coral diversity compared to seagrass and sand sites. Data gathered from these three parameters were represented spatially using GIS techniques and the decision-support software Marxan was used to develop four (4) conservation scenarios. The most suitable scenario was used to create the MSP which comprised six (6) zones: Strict Conservation Zone (marine), Strict Conservation Zone (terrestrial), Managed Area and Multi-use Zones A - C. This model MSP facilitates a range of socioeconomic activities, affords strict protection to key habitats and manages at-risk and important sites.
Monday 22 July, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Mrs SHIVONNE PETERS-McPHERSON has dedicated her more than 12-year career to protecting the Buccoo Reef Marine Park in Tobago. From 2011 to 2018, she worked as the Marine Park Manager for the Buccoo Reef Marine Park at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). During this period, she produced several policies including the Buccoo Reef Marine Park User Policy. From 2020 to 2021, she worked as Policy Advisor to the Chief Secretary, THA and also in the capacity of Deputy Chairman of the Buccoo Reef Policy Implementation Task Force. Since 2020, Shivonne has been a part-time Lecturer at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), and she currently works as a consultant, undertaking regional projects relating to SDGs and ocean management.
As an avid researcher, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Advanced Diver and licensed Boat Launch Captain, she has seen first-hand, the changes to Tobago’s coral reefs over the years.
Her work has been published in the IECS Journal of Marine Science, the Journal of Caribbean Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy (CESaRE) and the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday on a number of marine science-related themes including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications for marine park monitoring, tourism management and plastic pollution.
She holds two postgraduate degrees; one in Environment and Sustainable Development from the University College London and another in Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management from UTT. Following her studies at UTT, Mrs Peters-McPherson’s resolve to protect the Buccoo Reef was strengthened as she realised the need for zoning, a strategy that is utilised in many successfully-managed marine parks. She has recently concluded her study aimed at developing a Marine Spatial Plan for the Buccoo Reef based on socioeconomic and ecological assessments.
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