From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica
This paper explores the application of citizen science to help generation of scientific data and capacity-building, and so underpin scientific ideas and policy development in the area of coral reef management, on the coral reefs of Jamaica. From 2000 to 2008, ninety Earthwatch volunteers were train...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Zoology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/102350 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832551933459562496 |
|---|---|
| author | M. James C. Crabbe |
| author_facet | M. James C. Crabbe |
| author_sort | M. James C. Crabbe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper explores the application of citizen science to help generation of scientific data and capacity-building, and so underpin scientific ideas and policy development in the area of coral reef management, on the coral reefs of Jamaica. From 2000 to 2008, ninety Earthwatch volunteers were trained in coral reef data acquisition and analysis and made over 6,000 measurements on fringing reef sites along the north coast of Jamaica. Their work showed that while recruitment of small corals is returning after the major bleaching event of 2005, larger corals are not necessarily so resilient and so need careful management if the reefs are to survive such major extreme events. These findings were used in the development of an action plan for Jamaican coral reefs, presented to the Jamaican National Environmental Protection Agency. It was agreed that a number of themes and tactics need to be implemented in order to facilitate coral reef conservation in the Caribbean. The use of volunteers and citizen scientists from both developed and developing countries can help in forging links which can assist in data collection and analysis and, ultimately, in ecosystem management and policy development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1fadc8b7026a4e9fad051fdefd8eee5e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-8477 1687-8485 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Zoology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1fadc8b7026a4e9fad051fdefd8eee5e2025-02-03T05:59:53ZengWileyInternational Journal of Zoology1687-84771687-84852012-01-01201210.1155/2012/102350102350From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of JamaicaM. James C. Crabbe0Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Science Technology and Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies and Science, University of Bedfordshire, Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU, UKThis paper explores the application of citizen science to help generation of scientific data and capacity-building, and so underpin scientific ideas and policy development in the area of coral reef management, on the coral reefs of Jamaica. From 2000 to 2008, ninety Earthwatch volunteers were trained in coral reef data acquisition and analysis and made over 6,000 measurements on fringing reef sites along the north coast of Jamaica. Their work showed that while recruitment of small corals is returning after the major bleaching event of 2005, larger corals are not necessarily so resilient and so need careful management if the reefs are to survive such major extreme events. These findings were used in the development of an action plan for Jamaican coral reefs, presented to the Jamaican National Environmental Protection Agency. It was agreed that a number of themes and tactics need to be implemented in order to facilitate coral reef conservation in the Caribbean. The use of volunteers and citizen scientists from both developed and developing countries can help in forging links which can assist in data collection and analysis and, ultimately, in ecosystem management and policy development.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/102350 |
| spellingShingle | M. James C. Crabbe From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica International Journal of Zoology |
| title | From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica |
| title_full | From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica |
| title_fullStr | From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica |
| title_short | From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica |
| title_sort | from citizen science to policy development on the coral reefs of jamaica |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/102350 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mjamesccrabbe fromcitizensciencetopolicydevelopmentonthecoralreefsofjamaica |