Rapid assessment of management parameters for coral reefs

Abstract

While biological and oceanographic parameters form the central part of a database on coral reefs, information concerning human uses and impacts, as well as management efforts are essential to understanding the dynamics involved in changes occurring in this important component of the world ecosystem. As a means of facilitating this important understanding, Project RAMP (Rapid Assessment of Management Parameters) was developed to be integrated into the worldwide coral reef database project (ReefBase). The purpose of Project RAMP is to provide a parsimonious set of indicators covering the range of human factors potentially impacting coral reefs. Towards this end, aspects of human activities impacting and potentially impacting coral reefs were reviewed in light of developing a guide for information acquisition and subsequent coding for inclusion in ReefBase.