Coral Reefs: A Reef Resilience Toolkit Module

Managing for Resilience

The most fundamental piece of the Reef Resilience model is effective management. Maintaining healthy coral reef communities is the first line of defense against any major or minor disturbance. Corals that are already under stress are at a greater disadvantage when facing additional stressful conditions, such as elevated sea temperatures. Therefore, if managers are faced with limited choices in terms of steps to take in the face of rising sea temperatures, reducing all other threats should be the priority.

This section introduces some fundamental issues and approaches managers should consider in efforts to protect coral reef communities. It outlines measures to assist with design of appropriate monitoring programs, and provides links to monitoring protocols and tools to measure effectiveness.

Corals that have experienced local bleaching are at a disadvantage when faced with additional stresses, such as elevated sea temperatures. Photo © S. Wear/TNC

For those just beginning in the field of coral reef management, there are some excellent texts available that provide broad overviews of the issues and approaches found to be most effective.

• Marine and Coastal Protected Areas: A Guide for Planners and Managers By Rodney V. Salm and John R. Clark, 3rd Edition. Click on the image to download this document as a PDF.

• Marine Reserves: A Guide to Science, Design, and Use By Jack Sobel and Craig Dahlgren. Click on the image to preview or purchase this text.

• Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Guidebook By Melanie McField and Patricia Richards Kramer. Click on the image to review or download an English or Spanish version of this document as a PDF.