Building local capacity for coral reef restoration: insights from two Caribbean MPAs.

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Title: Building local capacity for coral reef restoration: insights from two Caribbean MPAs.
Alternate Title: Desarrollo de la capacidad local para la restauración de arrecifes de coral: perspectivas de dos AMPs del Caribe.
Authors: Uribe-Castañeda, Natalia1,2,3 natalia.uribe.castaneda@gmail.com, Main, Martin4 mmain@ufl.edu
Source: Revista de Biología Tropical. 2026 Supplement, Vol. 74, p1-13. 21p.
Subjects: CAPACITY building, COMMUNITY involvement, SOCIOECONOMIC factors, STAKEHOLDER analysis, CORAL reef restoration, MARINE parks & reserves, PROTECTED areas
Geographic Terms: COLOMBIA
Abstract (English): Introduction: Coral reef restoration requires building local capacity and engaging stakeholders throughout planning and implementation to reduce conflicts and enhance ecological and socio-economic outcomes. Objectives: To compare stakeholder perspectives on community engagement in coral reef restoration within the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (Colombia) and Laughing Bird Caye National Park (Belize), and to develop tailored guidelines for effective engagement strategies. Methods: We conducted a multiple-case study in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (Colombia) and Laughing Bird Caye National Park (Belize), collecting eight months of field data through interviews, surveys, and SWOT analyses, coding qualitative data and analyzing surveys with unpaired two-sample t-tests. Results: The primary strategy for enhancing engagement in coral reef restoration was building local capacity, complemented by strategic planning, budgeting, and educational initiatives for youth. Respondents from Seaflower Biosphere expressed greater concern for coral declines, a stronger sense of reef identity, and felt personally affected by the issues. In contrast, residents of Laughing Bird Caye focused more on economic opportunities, community meetings, and passive educational approaches. Conclusions: These guidelines provide a flexible framework for community engagement in coral reef restoration, emphasizing the importance of understanding socio-cultural and economic contexts, identifying key stakeholders, and fostering trusting, inclusive, and transparent relationships to empower communities and prioritize their active participation in restoration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): Introducción: La restauración de arrecifes de coral requiere fortalecer la capacidad local e involucrar a actores clave durante la planificación e implementación para reducir conflictos y potenciar los resultados ecológicos y socioeconómicos. Objetivos: Comparar perspectivas de los actores sobre participación comunitaria en la restauración de arrecifes de coral en la Reserva de Biosfera Seaflower (Colombia) y el Parque Nacional Laughing Bird Caye (Belice), y elaborar lineamientos adaptados para el desarrollo de estrategias de participación efectivas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de caso múltiple en la Reserva de la Biosfera Seaflower (Colombia) y el Parque Nacional Laughing Bird Caye (Belice), recopilando datos de campo durante ocho meses mediante entrevistas, encuestas y análisis FODA, codificando los datos cualitativos y analizando las encuestas mediante pruebas t de dos muestras independientes. Resultados: La estrategia principal para fortalecer la participación en la restauración de arrecifes de coral fue el desarrollo de capacidades locales, complementada con planificación estratégica, elaboración de presupuestos e iniciativas educativas dirigidas a la juventud. Los encuestados de la Reserva de la Biosfera Seaflower expresaron mayor preocupación por el deterioro de los corales, un sentido más fuerte de identidad con el arrecife y se sintieron personalmente afectados por estos problemas. En contraste, los residentes de Laughing Bird Caye se enfocaron más en oportunidades económicas, reuniones comunitarias y enfoques educativos pasivos. Conclusiones: Estos lineamientos ofrecen un marco flexible para la participación comunitaria en la restauración de arrecifes de coral, destacando la importancia de comprender los contextos socioeconómicos y culturales, identificar actores clave y fomentar relaciones de confianza, inclusivas y transparentes, para empoderar a las comunidades y priorizar su participación en los esfuerzos de restauración. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: MedicLatina
Description
Abstract:Introduction: Coral reef restoration requires building local capacity and engaging stakeholders throughout planning and implementation to reduce conflicts and enhance ecological and socio-economic outcomes. Objectives: To compare stakeholder perspectives on community engagement in coral reef restoration within the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (Colombia) and Laughing Bird Caye National Park (Belize), and to develop tailored guidelines for effective engagement strategies. Methods: We conducted a multiple-case study in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (Colombia) and Laughing Bird Caye National Park (Belize), collecting eight months of field data through interviews, surveys, and SWOT analyses, coding qualitative data and analyzing surveys with unpaired two-sample t-tests. Results: The primary strategy for enhancing engagement in coral reef restoration was building local capacity, complemented by strategic planning, budgeting, and educational initiatives for youth. Respondents from Seaflower Biosphere expressed greater concern for coral declines, a stronger sense of reef identity, and felt personally affected by the issues. In contrast, residents of Laughing Bird Caye focused more on economic opportunities, community meetings, and passive educational approaches. Conclusions: These guidelines provide a flexible framework for community engagement in coral reef restoration, emphasizing the importance of understanding socio-cultural and economic contexts, identifying key stakeholders, and fostering trusting, inclusive, and transparent relationships to empower communities and prioritize their active participation in restoration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00347744
DOI:10.15517/chgx9f68