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Perturbaciones Naturales y Explotación de Arrecifes Coralinos Panameños por Habitantes Nativos
Author(s) -
Guzmán Héctor M.,
Guevara Carlos,
Castillo Arcadio
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2003.02308.x
Subject(s) - reef , coral reef , geography , indigenous , environmental issues with coral reefs , coral , coral reef organizations , population , aquaculture of coral , resilience of coral reefs , coral reef protection , fishery , ecology , biology , demography , sociology
Before the 1980s, coral reefs were considered relatively stable and healthy in Kuna‐Yala, Caribbean Panama. During the 1980s, however, several natural disturbances changed the reef's community structure. We evaluated historical changes in coral cover and for the first time provide quantitative evidence of a large‐scale process of reef degradation. This process started long before the onset of these disturbances as a result of demographic growth and the traditional practices of the Kuna people. Living coral cover declined 79% in 30 years ( 1970–2001 ) while the indigenous population increased 62%. We measured 20 km of seawall built with mined reef corals ( 16,000 m 3 ) and an increase in island surface area of 6.23 ha caused by coral land filling. Consequently, coastal erosion has increased as a result of the lack of a protective natural barrier and a 2.0 cm/year local increase in sea level. Coral‐mining and land‐filling practices to accommodate population expansion and mismanagement of resources have significantly modified the reef ecosystem and will have serious long‐term consequences. We propose eight priority conservation areas within the Indian reserve, based on reef conservation status. The Kuna people and their leaders are considering a cultural change, which may include a gradual and organized migration to the mainland, and have optimistically accepted our results.