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Image courtesy of University of Hawaii at Manoa
An interesting bit of research by the University of Hawaii and Oregon State University show when it comes to polling tourists and recreational enthusiasts about the state of coral reefs, the concnesus is to do whatever is necessary to save the reefs. There is often a tangled web of controversy when it comes to the balance of what’s good for nature and the recreational”rights” of people but this study is showing the overwhelming majority feel these incredible and beautiful ecosystems need to be protected for the long term.Tourism is a big part of Hawaii’s economy with more than seven million people spending over $11 billion on the islands where the tropical water, beautiful reefs and huge array of tropical fish are a major draw. The researcher polled visitors to Hawaii’s coral reefs found that most visitors not only enjoy these areas but care about their future generally endorsing whatever amount of management is needed to protect them. According to Mark Needham, an assistant professor of forest ecosystems and society at OSU, “It was really quite astonishing, almost shocking how much people wanted this resource protected for its own sake…and if anything was to have a deleterious effect on reef ecosystems, they would want it stopped.” This is good news for the overall health and future of our reefs as the public attitude goes a long way towards long-term action.
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I’d be really curious to see what the actual study questions were.
“Opinions about coral reefs varied, Needham said, but were mostly just variations on how much protection might be needed, with some people feeling more extreme than others. Virtually no one wanted expanded use of coral reefs to the extent it might degrade them for enjoyment by future generations, and many were willing to endorse any level of protection needed, even if it meant banning human use. These views toward coral reefs reflected peoples’ core personal values and are unlikely to change much, scientists said.”
If the question really was, “Do you want coral reef’s to be protected if not doing so will degrade them for future generations?” how many people are really going to say “No”.
“many were willing to endorse any level of protection needed” isn’t a very concrete statement either.