2013 Milstein Science Symposium

Understanding Ecological and Social Resilience in Island Systems: Informing Policy and Sharing Lessons for Management

In Spring 2013, the CBC and partners organized a three-day symposium that brought together local resource managers, researchers, educators, island leaders, policy makers, and other leading conservation practitioners to present and analyze real-world resilience case studies. Central to the symposium was understanding resilience - the ability of ecological and social systems to absorb, resist, or recover from stressors and adapt to change while maintaining critical ecosystem functions and benefits.

Island ecosystems present unique challenges for conservation due to distinctive ecological and evolutionary processes and vulnerability to threats. The Milstein Science Symposium explored case studies that exemplify responses to disturbance of change in order to elucidate patterns and processes that foster resilience. Through sharing lessons learned and fostering networks of island managers that are addressing similar challenges, the symposium deepened manager insight into how to promote the resilience of coastal systems, particularly in tropical small island nations, as well as strengthen networks among island leaders, international scientists, and policymakers, paving the way for ongoing collaboration in the future.

The Milstein Science Symposium is proudly sponsored by the Irma and Paul Milstein Family.

Videos

Keynote Presentation - Tuesday, April 9th

Navigating an Era of Unprecedented Change: the Rise of Resilience and Its Importance to Islands

Paul Marshall, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and Nadine Marshall, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)

Invited Talks - Tuesday, April 9th

Socio-Ecological Resilience in Pacific Island Traditional and Contemporary Contexts

Stacy Jupiter, Wildlife Conservation Society

Environmental Displacement and Cultural Resilience: the Banabans of Ocean Island and Rabi

Dr. Katerina Teaiwa, Australian National University

Making It Easier to Manage Reefs for Resilience: A Framework For Interpretation of Resilience Assessment Scores

Sangeeta Mangubhai, The Nature Conservancy

Building Reef Resilience Capacity at a Local Scale

Naneng Setiasih, Coral Reef Alliance

Case Study Presentations - Tuesday, April 9th

Supporting Resilient Systems in the Bay Islands, Honduras

Jenny Myton, Coral Reef Alliance

An Integrated Framework for Assessing and Managing Data-Limited Fish Stocks

Kendra Karr, Environmental Defense Fund

Managing for Resilience Using Directed Monitoring Efforts and Community Engagement at the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA)

Russell Sparks, Division of Aquatic Resources, State of Hawaii

Managing Identity in the Midst of Globalization

Mae Adams, Micronesia Program, The Nature Conservancy

Ecological and Social Resilience in Island Systems: Case Study Of Lakshadweep

Vineeta Hoon, Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and Society, India

Integrated Indigenous Management of Land and Marine Protected Areas in Taiarapu, Tahiti

Tokainiua Devatine, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement (CRIOBE)

Panel Discussions - Tuesday, April 9th

What Is the Role of Science in Managing for Resilience?

Eleanor J. Sterling (moderator), American Museum of Natural History Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
Mae Adams, The Nature Conservancy
Tadzio Bervoets, St. Maarten Nature Foundation
Sangeeta Mangubhai, The Nature Conservancy
Hinano Teavai Murphy, University of California Berkeley
Hugh Possingham, University of Queensland and Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Stuart Sandin, University of California San Diego
Stephanie Wear, The Nature Conservancy

Resilience in the Solomon Islands: Common Threads, Trade-offs, and Unanticipated Outcomes

Christopher Filardi (moderator), American Museum of Natural History Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
Simon Albert, University of Queensland
Matthew Lauer, Sand Diego State University
Senoveva Mauli, The Nature Conservancy
Patrick Pikacha, Solomon Islands Community Conservation Partnership

Invited Talks - Wednesday, April 10th

Evolutionary Processes Fostering Resilience on Islands

Scott V. Edwards, Harvard University

Prioritizing Conservation Actions for Island Marine Ecosystems

Hugh Possingham, University of Queensland, Australia and School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University

Fostering Manager Voices to Inform Global Policy

Peter Kenilorea, UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States

Case Study Presentations - Wednesday, April 10th

Speyside Marine Area Community Based Management Project: A Case Study for Socio-Ecological Resilience in Tobago (Southern Caribbean)

Jahson Alemu, Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago

Climate Change Adaptation: Local Solutions For A Global Problem In A Popular Tourism Destination

Derta Prabuning, Reefcheck, Bali

Coral Reef Resilience to Climate Change in Saipan, CNMI: Field-Based Assessments and Implications for Vulnerability and Future Management

Steven Johnson, Division of Environmental Quality, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Notes from a Floating Island

Carlos Mondragon, Center for African and Asian Studies, El Colegio de Mexico

Community-Based Adaptation in the Pacific Islands

Meghan Gombos, Sea Change Consulting, LLC

Community-Based Planning And Mobilization in Urbanized Atolls: The Rita Reimaanlok Case Study

Tina Stege, Marshall Islands

Fostering Resilience in Coral Reef and Agricultural Systems in Guanica, PR

Paul Sturm, Ridge to Reefs

The Effects of Natural Disturbances, Reef State, and Herbivorous Fish Densities on Ciguatera Poisoning in Rarotonga, Southern Cook Islands

Teina Rongo, Climate Change-Cook Islands Division, Office of the Prime Minister

Incorporating Local Wisdom Sasi into Marine Zoning to Increase the Resilience of a Marine Protected Area Network in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Purwanto, Coral Triangle/Indonesia, The Nature Conservancy (presented by Sangeeta Mangubhai)

Panel Discussions - Wednesday, April 10th

Funding for Resilience: Perspectives From Funders and Grantees

Jeffrey Campbell (moderator), The Christensen Fund
Kate Barnes, The MacArthur Foundation
Bernd Cordes, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Nayari Perez Diaz, Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) Belize
Naneng Setiasih, Coral Reef Alliance

Case Studies

Island ecosystems present unique challenges for conservation due to their restricted geography and isolation as well as high vulnerability to threats such as climate change. At the same time, island peoples must confront pressures from rapid economic transformations, globalization, and climate change. Without the geographic buffers that a continent can provide, islands face critical conservation decisions now that foreshadow decisions all peoples, societies and nations will increasingly face. These decisions directly impact both biological and cultural diversity. Home to over 600 million people, islands are at the forefront of how humans will take action to define our shared future. These case studies relate first-hand experiences of how island systems have resisted or recovered from major disturbances. Understanding how island systems have faced and resisted or recovered from major disturbances can help managers and scientists assess what information they need to better inform planning and policy for resilience in the future.

The case studies presented here were inspired by the 2013 Milstein Science Symposium Understanding Ecological and Social Resilience in Island Systems: Informing Policy and Sharing Lessons for Management. Many symposium attendees expressed interest in hearing more about places that face challenges similar to their own. The Policy Working Group at the symposium felt that case studies on socio-ecological resilience collected and distilled to highlight success stories will bring community issues to life in a way that national policy representatives can use to guide recommendations on the global stage.

A Resilient Response to a Catastrophic Disturbance: Immediate & Middle-Term Recovery Following the 2007 Solomon Islands Tsunami

By relying on traditional food sources and norms of reciprocity, local communities on the island of Simbo exhibited social-ecological resilience following a devastating tsunami in 2007. Simbo, Solomon Islands.

By Matthew Lauer, Simon Albert, and Shankar Aswani

Speyside Marine Area Community-Based Management Project: A Case Study for Socio-ecological Resilience

A coral bleaching event and proposed coastal development provided the impetus to create a community-supported marine protected area. Speyside, Trinidad and Tobago.

By Jahson Alemu and Hyacinth Armstrong

Facing a Common Enemy in the Bay Islands: Responding to the Lionfish Invasion

Conservation NGOs united in the face of a common enemy, the invasive lionfish, and have consequently been able to better coordinate conservation efforts. Bay Islands, Honduras.

By Ian Drysdale, Jenny Myton, and Giacomo Palavicini

Land Clearing and Dredging Cause Sediment Plumes that Threaten Coral Reefs

Intensifying land clearing caused sediment plumes that threaten coral reefs. Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

Contributions by Kevin Rhodes

Learning Through Doing: The Story of Ailan Awareness's Partnerships with Coastal Communities

Community-based marine protected areas revitalize traditional management institutions and fisheries stocks. New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

By John Aini and Paige West

Using a Crown-of-Thorns Outbreak as an Opportunity to Teach Conservation

A crown-of-thorns outbreak in 2005 catalyzed the collaboration of community members and local NGOs to work together to reduce the species numbers. Romblon, Philippines.

By Chito Dugan

Managing Communication to Mitigate Potential Damage of Coral Reef Bleaching

A coral bleaching event in 2010 highlighted the importance of communication and consultation between local government agencies, businesses, and local NGOs. Tioman Island, Malaysia.

By Julian Hyde

The Establishment of Man of Shoals Marine Park Begins to Reverse Long-term Degradation of the Marine Environment

Conservation actors facilitate the establishment of a Marine Park in response to a coral bleaching event and long-term overfishing pressure. Sint Maarten.

By Tadzio Bervoets

Detection of a Coral Disease Outbreak and Lessons for the Future

Early detection of coral disease enables a coordinated response and learning for the future. Hanalei, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, USA.

By Anne Rosinski and Makaʻala Kaʻaumoana

A Well-Developed Community-Based Marine Protected Area Proves Resilient to a Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star Outbreak

A robust marine protected area buffered the ecosystem from the threat of a Crown-of-Thorns sea star outbreak. Nimpal Channel, Yap, FSM.

By Peter Houk, Berna Gorong, and Eva Buthung

Building Capacity for Community Management of Marine Resources

Through the melding of traditional and Western management practices, local communities were able to mitigate the harmful ecological effects of overfishing. Ulithi, Yap, FSM.

By Peter Nelson

Applying the Biosphere Reserve Model to Build Ecological & Socioeconomic Resilience

In response to rapid terrestrial and marine degradation following economic change in the San Andres Archipelago, community members and natural resource managers addressed environmental degradation through multidisciplinary, broad-based programs under the UNESCO biosphere reserve model. San Andres Archipelago, Colombia.

By Marion Howard and Elizabeth Taylor

Community Surveillance and Enforcement Leads to a Drastic Reduction in Destructive Fishing Methods

Local government and community leaders organized themselves to combat destructive cyanide and blast fishing through local patrolling. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

By Purwanto

Conservation Organizations and Agencies Unite to Address the Sedimentation Threat to Palau’s Coastal Ecosystems

When poorly maintained roads threatened the reefs of Babeldaob through sedimentation, a broad coalition of stakeholders worked to establish and promote best management practices, leading to recovery. Babeldaob, Palau.

By Umai Basilius

Coral Gardens as a Response to the Sustainability Challenge of Coral Lime Production

Coral nurseries aim to improve the sustainability of the longstanding collection of corals for lime in an island renowned for the quality of its lime. Andra Island, Manus, Papua New Guinea.

By Jane Wia

Using Temporary Closures to Enhance Social-Ecological Resilience in a Degraded Coral Reef System

Successful temporary closures generate momentum to establish a large locally managed marine protected area. Velondriake, Madagascar.

By Charlotte Gough, Jade Delevaux, Michele Barnes, and Kirsten L.L. Oleson

A Platform For Collaboration Spurs Efforts To Combat The Invasive Lionfish

NGOs, government agencies and research institutions complement one another in fighting the lionfish invasion's effect on Bermuda’s reefs. Bermuda.

By Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley

Sustainable Management of Near Shore Fisheries And Coastal Ecosystems Through Community Engagement and Collaboration

District chiefs, with technical support from NGOs and government ministries, work to overcome overfishing through community-based no-take areas. Kubulau District, Vanua Levu, Fiji.

By Stacy Jupiter

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