ENSTU 300: Critical Thinking & Communication in Environmental Studies

Stakeholders revolving around Coral reef

conservation
Alex Bouzigues, Environmental Studies Program, California State University Monterey Bay

(retrieved from http://www.ultrakulture.com/2016/01/03/how-to-grow-back-coral-reefs-restore-beaches-

with-biorock-2/)

and research. Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor and avid

Environmentalist Perspectives
Environmentalist are individuals that understand how
environments around the globe are being degraded due
to human activity, and care about the future of the planet.
Despite environmentalists not necessarily being
scientists, they are very aware of the scientific method
environmentalist that cares a lot about coral reef
conservation. He states that coral reefs are among the
most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet,
which house 10 percent of all fish while covering less
than 1 percent of the ocean surface which is very
alarming considering the rate of their degradation.
DiCaprio and other environmentalists support many revolving around ocean temperature rise and coral
projects that protect vulnerable flora and fauna from bleaching in Bocas Del Toro, Panama. She
extinction. They are also very supportive for discovered that in 2010 the water temperature had
restoring balance to endangered and threatened gotten so hot that few corals where able to resist the
ecosystems ("Replenishing Coral Reefs in the surrounding heat which led many of them to
Pacific Ocean", 2019). become bleached ("A Pleasant Surprise: The
Recovery of Bleached Panamanian Corals", 2019).
Scientist Perspectives
Scientists use observations to create experiments to
Climate denier Perspectives
understand the phenomenon of the natural world.
Climate deniers are people who deny that climate
Scientific research has been very important to
change is happening and that humans are not the
understand why coral reefs are degrading and what
cause of environmental issues. The Koch brothers
kind of precautions we need to do as humans to help
are two major people revolving around climate
conserve these diverse ecosystems. In the United
denial and are creating foundations such as the Cato
states, the Coral Reef Conservation Act was enacted
institute, Citizens for a Sound Economy and the
in 2000 which is promoting education, community
Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow to educate
outreach and scientific research to identify
people on climate denial. Reason climate deniers
institutional, financial and human resources to
like the Koch brothers deny climate change is
contribute to coral reef conservation (Richmond. et
because they are usually involved in fossil fuel
al. 2007). It was created after many scientific papers
industries (Dryzek, Norgaard & Schlosberg, n.d.).
were published, which had a lot of evidence on the
Fossil fuels are one of the leading contributors to
human contributions to coral reef degradation.
environmental problems and ocean temperature rise
Scientists also believe that watersheds and the land
(BARBIR, VEZIROGLU & PLASSJR, 1990). Denying
sea connection is very important in understanding
climate change only furthers their agenda with fossil
why coral reefs are dying. Scientific research found
fuels still being a major part of today’s economy.
evidence that corals reefs are usually only a short
(Dryzek, Norgaard & Schlosberg, n.d.).
distance away from watersheds that are being
polluted by petroleum and agro-chemicals which are
destroying the earth’s marine ecosystems Tourism/ Business perspectives
(Richmond. et al. 2007). Nancy Knowlton, who is a Humans have been known to exploit nature for
coral reef biologist, found a lot of evidence monetary gain throughout history (Kellert &

2
Wilson, n.d.). Countries surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea have been known to poach
Mediterranean red coral to create art for incoming
tourists. This tradition in crafting red corals around
the Mediterranean Sea can be dated back 7000
years. Over time the red coral became an important
Coral Reefs: Conservation Science, Policy, and
Implementation. Bioscience, 57(7), 598-607. doi:
10.1641/b570710
A Pleasant Surprise: The Recovery of Bleached
Panamanian Corals. (2019). Retrieved from
https://ocean.si.edu/ecosystems/coral-reefs/pleasant-
surprise-recovery-bleached-panamanian-corals

religious and cultural aspect surrounding the sea

which makes it very hard to teach poachers that
coral reefs are crucial for having a balanced marine
ecosystem (Tsounis, 2019).
Table 1. Stakeholder Perspectives
Tsounis, G. (2019). Jewel of the deep: are the modern
incarnations of age-old traditions -coral diving and
craftsmanship- selling Mediterranean red coral out?.
Retrieved from https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/13958
Replenishing Coral Reefs in the Pacific Ocean. (2019).
Retrieved from
https://www.leonardodicaprio.org/replenishing-coral-
reefs-in-the-pacific-ocean/

Stakeholder group and Representative Stakeholder What does the Dryzek, J., Norgaard, R., & Schlosberg, D. Oxford
representatives Examples Value stakeholder handbook of climate change and society (p. 149).
Typology value or
contribute?
Environmentalists Leonardo Care about Environmenta BARBIR, F., VEZIROGLU, T., & PLASSJR, H. (1990).
DiCaprio coral reefs l education Environmental damage due to fossil fuels
and dying use. International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy, 15(10),
environments 739-749. doi: 10.1016/0360-3199(90)90005-j
Scientists/ Nancy Knowlton Protect Scientific
researchers P.H.D. existing reefs/ paper showing Kellert, S., & Wilson, E. The Biophilia hypothesis.
biological coral reef
integrity degrading and
why
Climate deniers Koch brothers Money Foundations
that educate
people
surrounding
climate denial
Tourism business Local businesses Money, Being able to
revolving around religious continue
coral exploitation views exploiting
coral

Literature Cited
Richmond, R., Rongo, T., Golbuu, Y., Victor, S.,
Idechong, N., & Davis, G. et al. (2007). Watersheds and