A turnaround at Sanya National Coral Reef Nature Reserve?

Abstract

This paper examines efforts by the scientific community, the media and the regulatory bodies, respectively, in researching, reporting and managing the Sanya National Coral Reef Nature Reserve on Hainan Island, China’s first national-level marine protected area (MPA) dedicated solely to coral reef protection. Due to rising economic needs of Sanya’s tourism-dominant economy, heightened public awareness, and renewed prioritization by central and local governments, a turnaround is underway. Through this paper, we depict how science informs policy making and influences efforts in reef protection, and how media reporting raises awareness and documents a possible turnaround. For Sanya, environmental protection has become a top priority due to the mandate of the Central Government’s Five Year Plan, and the approach, taken by local authorities to balance development and conservation, is lending support to new optimism. In conclusion, it is suggested that more efforts are needed to monitor marine conservation and protection, understand spatial distribution and coverage of corals, and decipher past and present baseline conditions of coral reefs, such as age, biodiversity and health status of past, existing, and restored reefs.