TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding coastal social values through citizen science
T2 - The example of Coastsnap in Western Australia
AU - Elrick-Barr, Carmen E.
AU - Clifton, Julian
AU - Cuttler, Michael
AU - Perry, Craig
AU - Rogers, Abbie A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This project received support from the Peron Naturaliste Partnership (PNP) and the West Australian Planning Commission through the CoastWest program. It drew on CoastSnap, a University of New South Wales initiative developed by Mitchell Harley and installed in the PNP region with support from the West Australian Department of Transport via the Coastal Adaptation Program (CAP). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the West Australian Government, CoastSnap or the Peron Naturalist Partnership.
Funding Information:
This project received support from the Peron Naturaliste Partnership (PNP) and the West Australian Planning Commission through the CoastWest program. It drew on CoastSnap, a University of New South Wales initiative developed by Mitchell Harley and installed in the PNP region with support from the West Australian Department of Transport via the Coastal Adaptation Program (CAP). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the West Australian Government, CoastSnap or the Peron Naturalist Partnership.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/5/1
Y1 - 2023/5/1
N2 - The coast is socially, economically, and environmentally vital to humanity, yet at risk due to population growth, development, and climate change. Coastal managers are required to make complex decisions regarding the trade-offs that may arise because of these threats, hence evidence-based policy is essential. Advances in biophysical data have improved understanding of coastal change, yet comparative social data is limited. Innovations are required to generate social values data that: (i) links with biophysical data; (ii) is consistent, representative, and long-term; and (iii) requires low resource investment. This paper reports on a pilot program that sought to address these needs by linking with an established citizen science program, CoastSnap, to collect information on community use and values in the Peron Naturaliste region, south-west Western Australia. The program successfully monitored community use and values uncovering the importance of nature-based activities and the mental/emotional health benefits of interacting with the coast. It highlights spatial differences in use and value that can support regional coastal planning. In the longer-term, the approach could enable decision-makers to monitor change in use and values resulting from, for example, infrastructure investments or physical coastal change. Limitations include little control over respondent sample and lack of knowledge regarding barriers to participation. Further research into the factors that motivate users and their preferences for interacting with the remote survey technologies, along with an expanded network of CoastSnap Social Survey sites, would facilitate regional, national, and global comparison of use and values. The approach provides a valuable addition to coastal managers’ data collection toolbox, generating social data that are temporal, integrates with biophysical data, and supports regional coastal planning, whilst increasing opportunities to interact with the public to enhance awareness, interest and support for coastal management.
AB - The coast is socially, economically, and environmentally vital to humanity, yet at risk due to population growth, development, and climate change. Coastal managers are required to make complex decisions regarding the trade-offs that may arise because of these threats, hence evidence-based policy is essential. Advances in biophysical data have improved understanding of coastal change, yet comparative social data is limited. Innovations are required to generate social values data that: (i) links with biophysical data; (ii) is consistent, representative, and long-term; and (iii) requires low resource investment. This paper reports on a pilot program that sought to address these needs by linking with an established citizen science program, CoastSnap, to collect information on community use and values in the Peron Naturaliste region, south-west Western Australia. The program successfully monitored community use and values uncovering the importance of nature-based activities and the mental/emotional health benefits of interacting with the coast. It highlights spatial differences in use and value that can support regional coastal planning. In the longer-term, the approach could enable decision-makers to monitor change in use and values resulting from, for example, infrastructure investments or physical coastal change. Limitations include little control over respondent sample and lack of knowledge regarding barriers to participation. Further research into the factors that motivate users and their preferences for interacting with the remote survey technologies, along with an expanded network of CoastSnap Social Survey sites, would facilitate regional, national, and global comparison of use and values. The approach provides a valuable addition to coastal managers’ data collection toolbox, generating social data that are temporal, integrates with biophysical data, and supports regional coastal planning, whilst increasing opportunities to interact with the public to enhance awareness, interest and support for coastal management.
KW - Climate change adaptation
KW - Coastal management
KW - Community values
KW - Environmental management
KW - Monitoring
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150216692&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106563
DO - 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106563
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85150216692
SN - 0964-5691
VL - 238
JO - Ocean and Coastal Management
JF - Ocean and Coastal Management
M1 - 106563
ER -
