1999 Volume 11 Issue 1 Pages 73-83
Coral reefs have rich biodiversity and high productivity. Its environment, however, has continued to deteriorate owing to the inappropriate use of natural resources, inappropriate spatial use, inappropriate land use and others. In this paper, the interrelationship between the social system and the coral reef environment is analyzed from the viewpoint of inappropriate use of natural resources for Bangladesh, Maldives, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Various tools were used including data collection, field surveys and interview surveys. Major factors for the destruction of coral reef environment are destructive fishing methods, such as dynamite and cyanide fishing, collection of aquarium fishes, ornamental shells and corals, and coral sand mining. Outside economic pressure highly affects the relationship between the coral reef environment and nearby communities that depend on the coral reef for their livelihood, as shown in the following cycle: 1) overuse of natural resources and changes in the natural condition of coral reef community degrade the coral reef environment; 2) additional and changed use of natural resources causes deterioration of environmental quality and depletion of natural resources ; 3) deterioration of the environment affects the production of natural resources-based industries, causing more pressure on the environment.
