Abstract Summary
Tropical coastal resources in the Anthropocene have shown signs of degradation and a declining ability to naturally recover from disturbance. Multiple human factors, including the increasing demand and misuse of natural resources, have contributed to this trend. Climate change has triggered further decline, with increasing threats to coral reefs and coastal communities, mostly due to coral bleaching and mortality, sea level rise and shoreline erosion. With over 435 km of coastline across 44 municipalities (57%) in Puerto Rico, human coastal communities, hotels, and other private and public infrastructure are under increasing vulnerability, with a threat to its weakened economy. To improve coastal resource protection, it would be necessary to improve the understanding of ecosystem processes and enhance governance and management by incorporating public participation through community-based scientific citizens programs. Sharing scientific information with base communities will empower citizens with the necessary hands on knowledge to support a variety of management strategies, including coral farming, reef restoration, wetland and coastal forest reforestation, etc. This would contribute to restore ecosystems functions and resilience through ecosystem-based, sustainable, participatory management strategies. Non-governmental organization Sociedad Ambiente Marino (SAM) has successfully implemented multiple strategies to achieve a successful integration of traditionally-underserved base communities into coral reef conservation and restoration. This has empowered volunteers with the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills to plan, develop, and implement adaptive management strategies for the conservation and restoration of coastal resources. The symbiosis of ecological knowledge and social participation through SAM has resulted in over 150 presentations in multiple national and international meetings, generating more than 25 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The concern about declining coastal resources and community-based livelihoods, plus the interest, love and passion for the sea shared by volunteers are great sources of motivation to fully understand the pressing problems and protect their backyards.
