Streams, stories, and stakeholders: Protecting small island coral reefs through integrated watershed management planning

Talakhaya, a priority watershed and conservation area with the only flowing streams on the island of Rota in the CNMI, has changed drastically over the last century. Once full of pristine native limestone forest, historic land... [ view full abstract ]

Talakhaya, a priority watershed and conservation area with the only flowing streams on the island of Rota in the CNMI, has changed drastically over the last century. Once full of pristine native limestone forest, historic land use changes left major areas of the watershed somewhere between barren land and grassland, resulting in erosion and sedimentation of the coral reefs below. Yearly revegetation efforts are beginning to show progress with sediments stabilizing in the most exposed areas. However, the impact of intentional burning, used to aid in deer hunting, and a lack of familiarity of the watershed, as seen in survey responses, has limited the continued successful implementation of a “ridge to reef” conservation approach towards coral protection.

Engaging in a participatory process, stakeholders are exploring the methods used to measure watershed and coral health, offering stories about their connection to the island and the conservation area, and learning about the characteristics of streams to connect reefs to mountains to people. Utilizing geospatial data assembled in the open grasslands, water quality information gathered throughout the streams, invertebrate and fish biomass statistics collected in the nearshore reef, and social and cultural evidence amassed through interviews and workshops, this project attempts to integrate not only the various conservation approaches required for effective watershed and coral reef management, but also the residents of Rota and their stories into a community-based management plan that provides biocultural resilience to the threats of climate change, pollution, and beyond.