Mongabay · Climate & nature

Study: Tourism's dual role in Bali's coral reef decline

Coral reefs in Bali's Sanur tourism hub are declining despite restoration efforts, with a new study highlighting uncoordinated governance and the need to address root causes like pollution.

Reef restoration initiatives often fail to address underlying issues such as sediment runoff and wastewater discharge, according to research published in Ocean & Coastal Management. The study analyzed reef health data and interviewed 18 stakeholders in Sanur, a long-standing tourism hotspot.

Researchers identified complex, competing interests among various groups, leading to overlapping responsibilities, bureaucratic decision-making, and wasted resources. This "decision paralysis" hinders effective collective action, while reefs degrade into algae-covered rubble fields.

The study notes a paradox: tourism exacerbates threats like physical damage from visitors, boat anchoring, and wastewater, contributing to a 38% coral cover decline in tourism hubs between 2010 and 2023. However, tourism also provides a potential funding source for solutions.

Experts suggest that while restoration and cleanups are important, they must be supported by integrated approaches addressing wastewater treatment, marine spatial planning, and stronger regulations. This shifts focus from individual projects to system-level change.

Similar governance shortcomings have plagued restoration projects across Indonesia. Experts emphasize that restoration should not substitute for addressing root causes of reef decline, such as pollution and coastal development.

The long-term success of conservation depends on improving environmental conditions and managing reefs for resilience, not just coral cover. Climate change remains the overarching threat to coral reefs globally.

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