Guiding stakeholder negotiations in data-poor coastal planning with open-access spatial data

Area of Science:

• Conservation Science
• Coastal Management
• Socio-ecological Systems

Background:

• Negotiating conservation priorities in human-dominated ecosystems is challenging, especially in data-limited areas with conflicting stakeholder interests.
• Coastal zones face acute conflicts between development (e.g., tourism) and resource use (e.g., fisheries).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a transparent and reproducible framework for participatory coastal planning in data-poor environments.
• To inform negotiations on conservation priorities by visualizing trade-offs between conservation goals and socioeconomic impacts.

Main Methods:

• Combined open-access satellite imagery with a decision-support tool for spatial prioritization.
• Developed a framework to explore trade-offs in defining conservation targets, locating candidate areas, and determining restriction levels.
• Generated five alternative spatial planning scenarios based on different indices and practices.

Main Results:

• The framework visualizes trade-offs, aiding stakeholders in understanding impacts on tourism and fisheries.
• Alternative scenarios demonstrated how restrictions can be adjusted to meet conservation objectives while supporting local livelihoods.
• Identified limitations of existing conservation units and promoted inclusive decision-making.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides a practical tool for focusing stakeholder negotiations in conservation planning.
• Offers a scalable and transferable approach for equitable, multisectoral conservation planning in data-poor coastal regions facing complex trade-offs.