Planning Process of Monitoring for Conservation and Use of Okinawan Coral Reefs.

Abstract

Coral reefs that surround Okinawan Islands and that have sustained the life of people are at risk. Biological and physical parameters of Okinawan coral reefs have been monitored by a number of research institutes. To ascertain whether the information collected through such studies have met the needs for conservation and wise use of the coral reefs, I compared the types of information that reef managers demand and the existing information that research institutes have collected. I found that needed information, especially that on socio-economic variables, has not been collected sufficiently and that a long-term strategy for coral reef monitoring is urgently required. For the management-oriented monitoring, researchers, managers and the public should interact to clearly prioritize monitoring objectives. It is then necessary to make an appropriate sampling design, establish appropriate methodology, formulate data management system, visualize data using GIS, and share and disseminate information,