Assessment of Life Form and Adaptive Capacity of Coral Reef Ecosystem in Tanjung Tiram Waters, Southeast Sulawesi.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The coastal areas of Southeast Sulawesi are households of rich coastal ecosystems, which provide precious ecosystem services for society, but recent conditions might be suffered by various natural and anthropogenic pressures. This study aimed to elucidate the life forms and adaptive capacity of the coral reefs ecosystem in the Tanjung Tiram waters, as one of the potential tourist places in Southeast Sulawesi. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Observation of the life form and adaptive capacity of coral reefs was carried out using the LIT (line intercept transect) method. The adaptive capacity components of the coral reef ecosystem were assessed including: (1) Coral reef dimensional index (IDCR), (2) Coral cover (%), (3) Dominance of life forms, (4) Number of life form species, (5) Number of reef fish species, (6) Depth of coral reefs and (7) Distance of coral reef ecosystems from residential areas. <b>Results:</b> The life forms of coral reefs consist of <i>Acropora</i> and non-<i>Acropora</i> corals. Adaptive capacity components of coral reefs showed different categories, such as the coral reef dimensional index belonging to the "Low" category, while mostly other adaptive capacity parameters including coral cover, the coral life forms and the number of coral fish belong to the "Moderate" category except for the number of life-form species of coral reefs is in the high category. The distance of the coral reef ecosystem is very near to human settlements of Tanjung Tiram Village and thus coral reef ecosystems are affected by human activities. <b>Conclusion:</b> Overall, the adaptive capacity of the coral reef ecosystem in Tanjung Tiram waters was a moderate category, thus, efforts must be made such as by coral transplantation, conservation, etc., to increase the coral reefs' adaptive capacity in the coastal regions of Southeast Sulawesi.

Hypothetical effects assessment of tourism on coastal water quality in the Marine Tourism Park of the Gili Matra Islands, Indonesia.

Tourism is one of the most important issues facing marine protected areas (MPAs) and small islands worldwide. Tourism development is considered a contribution to pollution levels in the environment. This paper aims to evaluate the hypothetical effects of tourism development on water quality spatially and temporally using the coastal water quality index (CWQI) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in search of improved management for marine conservation areas. This study showed significant tourism influences on the CWQI in the Marine Tourism Park of the Gili Matra Islands, Lombok, Indonesia. Water quality variability indicates a significant spatiotemporal difference (p < 0.05) in the two tourism seasons. During the peak season of tourism, the CWQI decreased to poor conditions, i.e., ranging from 9.95 to 21.49 for marine biota and from 7.98 to 30.42 for marine tourism activities in 2013, and ranging from 39.52 to 44.42 for marine biota and from 44.13 to 47.28 for marine tourism activities, which were below the standard for both marine biota and marine tourism activities. On the contrary, it showed a better level (from poor to moderate) during the low season of tourism (ranging from 41.92 to 61.84 for marine biota and from 48.06 to 65.27 for marine tourism activities in 2014), providing a more acceptable condition for both aspects. The study proved that massive tourism development in the MPA and small islands could reduce water quality and increase vulnerability. Accordingly, integrated tourism management and the environment, waters, and land will be needed to develop sustainable tourism. The CWQI and GIS were applicable to assess water quality, both spatially and temporally, and become a quick reference in monitoring and initial evaluation of impact management.

Assessment of Stakeholder's Perceptions of the Value of Coral Reef Ecosystem Services: The Case of Gili Matra Marine Tourism Park.

Ecosystem services is a concept broadly applicable to describe environmental interrelations with human activities. It serves as a practical instrument for assessing the success of resource management in natural reserves, with the goals of maximising conservation effort and achieving sustainable use. The Gili Matra Marine Tourism Park (GMMTP) has been extensively researched as a marine protected area centred on anthropocentric activities of marine-based tourism. However, there still a lack of research to address the full scope of ecosystem services derived from the coral reef ecosystem. From an ecosystem services viewpoint, the study's objectives were to define the services obtained from the GMMTP's coral reef ecosystem, relevant stakeholders, and how their utilisation activities were posed as drivers of changes that reflect the flow of services and the possible implications of these. Marine tourism, capture fisheries, and land-based activities were identified as services impacting upon the regulating and supporting services, with the resultant compounding externalities potentially degrading the services' utilisation value. Although there have been certain changes in community behaviour that may reduce the intensity of the impacts, the present prediction of service flow still confirms the previous statement. The results provided insight into current resources management implications on the state of ecosystem services. Overall, failing to recognise the causes that drives the interaction of these ecosystem services will increase the risk of incurring unexpected trade-offs, restricting the potential for resources' synergies, and eventually causing drastic and irreversible changes in the provision of coral reef ecosystem services in the GMMTP.

Magnitudes and tourist perception of marine debris on small tourism island: Assessment of Tidung Island, Jakarta, Indonesia.

The sources of marine debris (MD) on a small island are largely dependent on the activities on and around the island, one of which is tourism. In this study, the magnitude and tourists' perceptions of MD on a small tourism island (Tidung Islands, Jakarta, Indonesia) were assessed. The results indicated that the tourism is one of the largest waste-generating sources. Plastic waste formed the major proportion of the solid waste, accounting for 83.86% of the total. The unmanaged tourism waste led to a clean-coastal index corresponding to the category "extremely dirty" and decreasing visitors' acceptance index. The resulting conditions will make the tourism unsustainable. In tourism, waste management should be focused on, including prevention and collaborative actions with residents and tourism actors. In addition, the tourist awareness campaigns must be conducted prior to tourist-visitation on the island.

Under pressure: Investigating marine resource-based livelihoods in Jakarta Bay and the Thousand Islands.

Jakarta Bay, next to the Jakarta Metropolitan Area with around 30 million inhabitants, is facing extreme pollution. Although local coral reefs are degraded and marine resources heavily exploited, they provide livelihoods for millions of people. This study investigates anthropogenic pressures on local fisheries resources and associated livelihoods. Questionnaire surveys were conducted in 15 coastal communities (10 coastal neighborhoods in Jakarta Bay on the mainland and 5 of the offshore Thousand Islands). The most economically valuable species were Caesio cuning (Redbelly yellowtail fusilier) on the islands and Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian mackerel) on the mainland. Over 80% of all interviewed fishermen regarded the current state of marine resources as declining, mainly due to pollution and overexploitation. While perceptions of declining resources were equally high on the islands and the mainland, pollution was listed as the principal cause of degradation significantly more on the mainland. Findings are discussed in the context of coastal livelihood vulnerability.