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These report cards (national and regional) will serve

Reporting on Environmental Perceptions

to:

We also believe it is critically important to monitor,

·

Bring the state of the environment, including

understand,  and  convey  public  opinions  and

human dimensions, up front in the minds of

perceptions about the environment. The Stakeholder

politicians and the general populace

Opinion Survey6, taken in October 2005, was our

first such survey (Figure 10.a). These results clearly

·

Enlist public support for environmental programs

illustrate the concern stakeholders have for the health

and advocacy issues

of the MAR. We intend to regularly update the survey,

expand its breadth, increase the number of people

·

Galvanize political action in support of sustainable

and groups surveyed and compare results against the

ecosystem management

data-driven "report cards."

Figure 10.a. Results of 2005 Opinion Survey on the Health of the Mesoamerican Reef

Opinion Survey Results

Mesoamerican Reef

Ecosystem

Status

Trend

Coral reef ecosystem

Declining

Improving

Fisheries

Declining

Improving

Water quality

Declining

Improving

Social well-being

Declining

Improving

Governance/

stewardship

Declining

Improving

The purpose of the opinion survey was to capture perceptions on the prevailing conditions of the Mesoamerican

Reef Ecosystem. A small group (n=102) of people (primarily managers, conservationists, scientists, and

stakeholders) participated in the Healthy Reefs Opinion Survey (fall 2005). The above graphic illustrates the

collective responses to the following question:

How would you grade the status over the last 10 years of the Coral reef ecosystems, Fisheries, Water

quality, Social well-being, and Governance/stewardship in the Mesoamerican Reef Ecosystem?

More information on the survey results is available on our website at www.healthyreefs.org.

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