indicate that, in light of currently known recovery rates of reef ecosystems from
stresses, if impact by human activities continues at the present rate there may not be
enough time, knowledge, or resources available to implement appropriate management
strategies to preserve what remains of coral reefs (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999; Risk, 1999).
Within the last decade, there has been an obvious realization of the dangers human
activity can cause to reef ecosystems, and a concerted international effort to manage
coral reef ecosystems in the most effective ways possible has ensued. One management
response to the reef ‘crisis’ has been to develop a completely comprehensive global
view of reef health (Bryant et al., 1998) for the purposes of (1) illustrating areas where
reefs are at risk; (2) devising protected areas where human activity is not permitted; and
(3) increasing awareness of human impact on coral reefs and their subsequent response
to impacts. Government agencies, coral reef organizations, researchers, and scientists
worldwide have been involved in developing strategies that address these issues in the
most effective and appropriate manner possible (Hatcher, 1999). However, arguments
over effectiveness have slowed response times and in some cases have generated
suspicion about appropriate protection and remediation strategies. Fortunately, in
recent years there has been an explosion in the amount of coral reef information.
Though this information is scattered in databases all over the world (e.g. Green et al.,
1996), there is now renewed confidence in scientific abilities to devise strategies that
can bring about management of human activity and changes in our attitudes towards
coral reef ecosystems.
Today, a myriad of knowledge bases exists to assist scientists and managers in
studying and describing the condition of reefs within spatially isolated and dotted
seascapes. These knowledge bases span biological to socio-economic approaches to the
study of reefs, have become more focused, detailed, and comprehensive over the years,
and are increasingly available to international researchers, managers, and planners
(Wilkinson, 2000). In addition, these knowledge bases are evolving to serve the
information needs of coastal managers, whose decision-making is a function of timely,
accurate, and relevant information. Ideally, managers would utilize scientifically
gathered and analyzed information to appropriately guide the development of
management strategies in unique social and biological settings. In light of reef
degradation, demands for science-based information are immense and growing, as
management faces the task of stopping and reversing reef decline.
Over the last decade, remote sensing technology has come to play an important
part in the development of this knowledge base. The remote sensing data set
continuously expands with the collection of more satellite and aircraft imagery and data
from field surveys. To the benefit of both scientists and managers, the combined effort
of scientists undertaking image collection and concurrent field validation has enhanced
the precision and accuracy of remotely sensed information. In more recent remote
sensing efforts, reef habitat types and reef inhabitants have been detected at finer spatial
scales, while changes in reef processes have been identified using more frequent repeat
cycles. Improvements to sensor capabilities have broadened the capabilities of remote
sensing: it can now provide more than the traditional maps of habitat distribution, as
important as they might be, and provide additional information that allows reef
scientists and managers to establish baseline data sets. Such data can be used for
comparisons to assess the status of reefs, as well as the efficacy of current management
strategies. In service of scientists’ increasing interest in devising monitoring strategies
to evaluate management plans, remote sensing also provides information on a regular
and timely basis. As a result, remote sensing may be used to provide information that
253
Mapping and Management of Coral
stresses, if impact by human activities continues at the present rate there may not be
enough time, knowledge, or resources available to implement appropriate management
strategies to preserve what remains of coral reefs (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999; Risk, 1999).
Within the last decade, there has been an obvious realization of the dangers human
activity can cause to reef ecosystems, and a concerted international effort to manage
coral reef ecosystems in the most effective ways possible has ensued. One management
response to the reef ‘crisis’ has been to develop a completely comprehensive global
view of reef health (Bryant et al., 1998) for the purposes of (1) illustrating areas where
reefs are at risk; (2) devising protected areas where human activity is not permitted; and
(3) increasing awareness of human impact on coral reefs and their subsequent response
to impacts. Government agencies, coral reef organizations, researchers, and scientists
worldwide have been involved in developing strategies that address these issues in the
most effective and appropriate manner possible (Hatcher, 1999). However, arguments
over effectiveness have slowed response times and in some cases have generated
suspicion about appropriate protection and remediation strategies. Fortunately, in
recent years there has been an explosion in the amount of coral reef information.
Though this information is scattered in databases all over the world (e.g. Green et al.,
1996), there is now renewed confidence in scientific abilities to devise strategies that
can bring about management of human activity and changes in our attitudes towards
coral reef ecosystems.
Today, a myriad of knowledge bases exists to assist scientists and managers in
studying and describing the condition of reefs within spatially isolated and dotted
seascapes. These knowledge bases span biological to socio-economic approaches to the
study of reefs, have become more focused, detailed, and comprehensive over the years,
and are increasingly available to international researchers, managers, and planners
(Wilkinson, 2000). In addition, these knowledge bases are evolving to serve the
information needs of coastal managers, whose decision-making is a function of timely,
accurate, and relevant information. Ideally, managers would utilize scientifically
gathered and analyzed information to appropriately guide the development of
management strategies in unique social and biological settings. In light of reef
degradation, demands for science-based information are immense and growing, as
management faces the task of stopping and reversing reef decline.
Over the last decade, remote sensing technology has come to play an important
part in the development of this knowledge base. The remote sensing data set
continuously expands with the collection of more satellite and aircraft imagery and data
from field surveys. To the benefit of both scientists and managers, the combined effort
of scientists undertaking image collection and concurrent field validation has enhanced
the precision and accuracy of remotely sensed information. In more recent remote
sensing efforts, reef habitat types and reef inhabitants have been detected at finer spatial
scales, while changes in reef processes have been identified using more frequent repeat
cycles. Improvements to sensor capabilities have broadened the capabilities of remote
sensing: it can now provide more than the traditional maps of habitat distribution, as
important as they might be, and provide additional information that allows reef
scientists and managers to establish baseline data sets. Such data can be used for
comparisons to assess the status of reefs, as well as the efficacy of current management
strategies. In service of scientists’ increasing interest in devising monitoring strategies
to evaluate management plans, remote sensing also provides information on a regular
and timely basis. As a result, remote sensing may be used to provide information that
253
Mapping and Management of Coral