| Author | Hossain, Md. Zakir |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy in
Integrated Tropical Coastal Zone Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | An MPA Network is defined as a Network of Marine Protected Areas or Marine Reserves
or Marine Parks. Generally, MPA Network provide a framework that unifies the central
aims of conservation and fishery management, while meeting other human needs such as
maintenance of coastal water quality, shoreline protection, education, research and
recreational opportunities. In regard, some of the pioneer researches on MPA Network
design have been conducted in the west (e.g., California Channel Islands, South Australia
or Gulf of California), and there is not such study or research in Asian context. Therefore,
this study aims to develop and evaluate an MPA network design in Thai Andaman Coast
(covering Krabi and Trang Provinces), a tropical area with diversified ecosystems and
habitats that belong to one of the world’s highest biodiversity region. Although the other
researchers have used ecological criteria as a theoretical framework and described the steps
in designing an MPA network, this research study has emphasized on describing and
assessing the ecological and socio-economic context and considerations and integrating
them to design an MPA network.
This study has used an integrated assessment and monitoring approach where several
methods were employed to map and monitor changes in landscape and seascape areas. The
methods employed include interpretation and analysis of satellite images with several
spatial resolutions (30m, 15m, 4m) and GIS datalayers. Spectral Analysis and Principal
Component Analysis (PCA) were applied initially and the outputs were compared. Change
detection and image classification with water column correction techniques and several
GIS methods were used extensively for mapping, monitoring and assessment tasks. The
quantitative analysis was mainly made for the terrestrial part, but for benthic habitats only
the qualitative comparison was made on outputs obtained from different satellite images.
Although the existing marine protected areas were declared earlier than 1990s, the changes
are still found inside the protected area boundary during 1990-2005. The result shows a
significant increase in agriculture areas including aquaculture development, which are
however lesser inside the protected areas than the buffer areas. While mangrove areas have
noticed negative changes, an increase in Malalueca forest or such type is found interesting.
The study has also identified that the demarcation of MPA and the buffer areas has paid
little attention to the resource users or stakeholders towards wise use or protection of
existing forest as well as coastal and marine habitats.
Under this study an MPA network has been designed using Multi-criteria Spatial Decision
Support Systems. Many criteria/factors (suitable as well as limiting factors) were
considered in candidate sites selection. The indirectly used criteria were taken into
consideration while assigning weight in different criteria. Beforehand an analysis was
made on local resource users’ perception on protection and conservation aspects, which
showed that the protection area must be decreased with equal and/or greater emphasis on
law enforcement. In terms of total area the resultant MPA network has been found smaller
and with varied scale of protection zones. Overall the study has staged the lessons to be
learned while designing or developing an MPA Network. Only in socio-economic context
those lessons could be different in the western countries if compared with Asian countries.
The study outputs showed that an MPA network should be in such area where different
habitats or parts of them are necessary to be strictly protected and the outside areas are to
be well managed or seasonally protected. Any threat (human induced or natural) from any
potential sources is to be monitored and managed properly in order to achieve the positive
outputs from an MPA network. |
| Year | 2009 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Tripathi, Nitin K. ; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Gallardo, Wenresti G. ;Kibe, Seishiro ;Baban, Serwan J. ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Fellowship/Danish International
Development Assistance (Danida); |