Presentation

Organizers:

Date:

October 22, 2024

Time:

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Fee:

FREE Entrance

Location:

Room C, University of Aruba

Balancing Reef Conservation and Human Impact in Marine Protected Areas

SISSTEM

Description:

Dr. Lisa Becking will present the INREEF project, which explores how coral reefs in Indonesia and the Dutch Caribbean are impacted by a combination of environmental and human pressures. INREEF seeks to understand how tourism, alongside climate change, fishing, and pollution, influences the ecological health of coral reefs and the livelihoods of local communities in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Coral reefs, which are vital for biodiversity and local economies, are facing unprecedented threats globally. In both Indonesia and the Dutch Caribbean, governments and organizations are promoting coral reefs as both conservation priorities and key attractions for marine tourism. INREEF’s research takes a comparative approach, studying MPAs under varying degrees of tourism development to identify the key drivers of change, thresholds, and interactions that shape these ecosystems. By examining both social and ecological factors, the project provides critical insights into the balance needed to protect marine ecosystems while sustaining local livelihoods.

Dr. Becking’s lecture will focus on the project’s goals, its findings so far, and the importance of understanding the complexities of managing coral reefs in regions where tourism plays a prominent role.

Speaker:

Dr. Lisa Becking is a renowned tropical marine biologist and a fellow at NIAZ and KNAW, as well as a senior researcher at Naturalis Biodiversity Center and an Associate Professor at Wageningen University & Research (WUR).

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