Multi-stakeholder perspectives on coastal and marine (connectivity) management in Dominican Republic

Abstract

Large-scale connectivity conservation initiatives are increasing in prevalence as a variety of benefits are continually being demonstrated through these models, such as establishing and strengthening marine protected area (MPA) networks. The historical approach to solely establishing protected areas (PA) is no longer sufficient for achieving effective protection and often does not include comprehensive and holistic management plans involving multiple perspectives. This thesis presents findings from research in the Dominican Republic (DR) where numerous components of coastal and marine social-ecological systems are addressed, including: status of large scale connectivity initiatives; governance structure inclusion of local resource users; and explore alternative livelihood opportunities.