HUMANITES ASSIGNMENT

Human Impact on the Ecosystem

A Report comparing reefs at Tioman Island and the Great Barrier Reef

Vrijen Attawar

12/9/2007

A study comparing and analyzing the Human Impacts on Tioman Island and the Great Barrier Reef

Table of Contents:Introduction:.........................................................................................................................................................................3

What is the Research about?............................................................................................................................................3

Why is it Important?..........................................................................................................................................................3

What are you going to show or prove?.............................................................................................................................3

Methodology:........................................................................................................................................................................3

Palau Tioman:....................................................................................................................................................................3

Questionnaires:.............................................................................................................................................................3

Survey/Observation:......................................................................................................................................................3

Interviews:.....................................................................................................................................................................3

Websites:.......................................................................................................................................................................3

Great Barrier Reef:............................................................................................................................................................4

Websites and Online Journals:......................................................................................................................................4

Findings from my Research:..................................................................................................................................................4

The Great Barrier Reef:.....................................................................................................................................................4

Palau Tioman:....................................................................................................................................................................5

The Effects of this Change:................................................................................................................................................6

Environmental:..................................................................................................................................................................7

Political:.............................................................................................................................................................................7

Economic:..........................................................................................................................................................................7

Social interaction:..............................................................................................................................................................8

Conclusion:............................................................................................................................................................................8

Awareness:........................................................................................................................................................................8

Stricter Regulation:............................................................................................................................................................8

Action on climate change:.................................................................................................................................................8

Investment in new technology:.........................................................................................................................................8

Bibliography:.........................................................................................................................................................................9

Images:..............................................................................................................................................................................9

Information:......................................................................................................................................................................9

Introduction:For this assessment task, we were asked to complete a research report that was a comparison between an ecosystem that we saw on Tioman Island (either the rainforest, coral reef or the Mangroves) and another similar ecosystem that we researched somewhere else on the planet. For this study, I have chosen to examine the Coral Reefs in Tioman Island with those in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. My aim for this study, will be to compare these two environments and prove that Human intervention on the environment is always damaging

What is the Research about?My research on this topic is mostly based on the human intervention in Tioman Island. In this essay, I’ve consulted numerous sources, and formulated my arguments to prove that Human Intervention is almost always damaging to a local environment.

Why is it Important? This research is important, since it helps me substantiate my aforementioned argument, and it is by such research alone that we can formulate strategies where the impact to an ecosystem because of anthropogenic activity is reduced.

What are you going to show or prove?In this essay, I will showcase the economic, social, political and environmental results of Human activity on two of the world’s most famous and scenic coral reefs, Palau Tioman and the Great Barrier Reef.

Methodology:

To fully explain the methodology by which I collected my data and results, I will split this section into 2 parts, Palau Tioman and The Great Barrier Reef. By doing this, I will be able to better explain the methods by which I researched anthropogenic activity

Palau Tioman:Due to the nature of our visit to Tioman Island, a variety of sources were used while compiling information about human impact on the island. This included:

Questionnaires:Questionnaires were handed out to locals on the Island, as well as visitors who came to the Island. Their opinions and ideas helped a great deal while understanding the current situation on Tioman Island as well as what might happen in the future

Survey/Observation:On the Tioman trip, we spent a great deal of time discussing the various human impacts on the various ecosystems. As part of this, we partook in sessions of silent observation where we were taken to a section of the coral reef and asked to spend 5 minutes assessing the area.

Interviews:(See Questionnaires)

Websites:Although it played a lesser role than with the Great Barrier Reef, a sizeable proportion of the information I researched was picked up from a variety of websites and online journals

Great Barrier Reef:Although my not being able to visit the Great Barrier Reef limited the number of sources I had for research, I used the following methods to collect information regarding this subject. For my GBR research I almost exclusively used the internet however I did try and get some variety in the outlets of information

Websites and Online Journals:The majority of my information came from websites regarding various issues that the Great Barrier Reef faces because of human involvement. Even in this category however, I tried to vary the types of websites I visited. As you can see in my bibliography, I visited numerous websites that addressed a plethora of relevant issues.

I also looked into online journals such as EBSCO that provide even more material for me to look into regarding the human impact on coral reefs

Findings from my Research:To better explain the situation in both Tioman and the GBR (Great Barrier Reef), I will begin by summarizing the situation as it is right now in both regions.

The Great Barrier Reef:Over an area of approximately 344,400 km2, and composed of 2,800 - 3000 individual coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest collective reef system in the world and is located off the coast of Queensland in Northern Australia in the Coral Sea. The Great Barrier Reef can also be seen from outer space making it the single largest structure made by living organisms, and has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site since 1981 and as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. It has also been greatly affected by scientific advancements, with both positive and negative impacts emerging from their application. [t1], [t2]

Image 1: A Map of the Great Barrier Reef [i1]

However as of late, this amazing ecosystem has been exposed to a number of threats, almost all of which are a result of human interference. To begin with, the reef is the region’s drainage basin. Now, although this isn’t a serious problem in nature, the nearby urbanization has had a huge impact on the reef. Huge amounts of pollution seep through the sewage system and eventually reach the sea where the reef is greatly damaged by the large quantity of waste. This includes industrial waste, waste from residential areas and waste from the farming sector. For example, the silt that is released into the sea because of the real estate development forms a thin layer as it deposits over the corals. Although this is removed by the action of the ocean, due to the massive scale of silt release, the waters here become muddy and unclear, and a thick layer of silt forms. This layer in conjunction with the floating particulate matter means that the amount of sunlight available to the zooxanthellae (algae that reside in the coral and feed them) decreases, essentially starving the corals to death. This kind of coral devastation also harms the local marine life, and being a keystone species in the food chain, the demise of corals means that the area eventually becomes devoid of life. [t3]

Due to the steady rise in economic and industrial activity over the past decade, we have seen an 800% rise in the mud pollution and a 3000% rise in inorganic nitrogen pollution. Such activity alone has caused damage to nearly 66% of reefs, greatly hampering growth of corals. [t4], [t5]

Another important factor that has greatly affected the coral reefs in the GBR has been climate change. Over the last few years, many acres of coral reefs have suffered irreversible bleaching (the expulsion of zooxanthellae algae) which has caused their death. Caused by the industrial excesses carried out by humans around the world, climate change has led to the almost systematic destruction of corals worldwide. According to scientist Terry Done, a rise in global temperatures of 1 degree will result in 82% of the Great Barrier Reef being bleached, a rise of 2 degrees would mean a 97% bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef and a 3 degree rise would mean the complete destruction of the reef [t6]

Image 2: Bleached Corals [i3]

Overfishing is yet another factor that has led to a decline of Marine life in the GBR. In particular, species that control algae levels and the number of Crown of Thorn Starfishes are targeted due to their popularity. These include the Platax Pinnatus or the Batfish and the Great Triton, a mollusk and natural predator of the crown of thorn starfish. For a large part, laws have been set in place to prevent more harmful forms of fishing such as dynamite fishing or cyanide fishing, however these do occur along the GBR and cause great devastation

Palau Tioman:One of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse islands on the planet, Tioman Island or Palau Tioman as the locals call it, is a small island off the coast of Malaysia. It is about 39km long and 12 km wide, and is situated 32km off the east coast of Malaysia. Although fiercely protected by the local inhabitants and the government, large-scale development has begun on the Island as of recent.

Image 3: A Map of Tioman Island [i2]

Aside from its natural significance, Tioman Island also plays host to a number of protected species such as the Slow Loris, Black Giant Squirrel, Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Long-tailed Macaque, etc, and even a few endemic such as the Tioman Walking Catfish. The island also has huge forests, some of which stretch uninterrupted across the length of the island, but most importantly, has extraordinary coral reefs. Although small, it has hundreds of different coral species (including many species considered rare worldwide), and an innumerable number of marine species.

However, despite the protection it is afforded by the government, large-scale development on the island has begun to take place in the form of construction of a new international airport and public marina project. The effects of this however have been devastating. It is reported that all the corals within a 30 meter radius of the development had been destroyed, with a further 17 nearby sites affected to varying degrees since the start of the project. The devastation includes large patches of coral, some 200 giant clams (endangered species currently on the Red List) and over 220 other local species. [t7]

The Effects of this Change:As one can see from the above section, the change in these regions has been huge. However, this change and the impact that it’s had can be categorized into the following categories:

1. Environmental2. Political3. Economic4. Social Interaction

As we’ve already seen, the anthropogenic interference has meant a great deal of change in environments that have until recently been static and thus cannot adapt to the change.

Environmental:As far as the environment is concerned, change has had a predominantly negative effect in both regions. The GBR for example, has suffered greatly due to the influx of pollution, the byproduct of industrial development in Queensland. Local construction has led to siltation in the region, and the local agricultural industry is responsible for the aforementioned 3000% rise in the amount of inorganic nitrogen. For Tioman island, the environmental damage would be the construction of the public marina, which as I mentioned before, has led to the death of almost all the corals within a 30m2 radius of the construction site. In Tioman, the local fishing industry has expanded, however overfishing seems to have become the order of the day. This has had devastating effects on the local environment, since the demand for fish is beginning to outpace the ability of the island to supply the locals. A number of illegal and even more harmful methods of fishing such as dynamite fishing, cyanide fishing, etc have also become common. [t3], [t4], [t5]

However, as we can see with the development of the marina, the end is not completely negative in nature. The development of the marina, and a duty free system in Malaysia would also mean more jobs for the locals and an increase in trade to and fro the island. The Airport would have a similar effect, in the sense that there would be more tourism and a greater number of visitors to the Marine Park

However, there has been some human intervention made to solve the problem of environmental damage. For starters, both the GBR and Tioman are under considered marine parks, and thus legally protected against damage. The Australians also have a federal agency, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, in charge of the park and its maintenance. In addition to patrolling the waters, the Marine Park authorities in both Tioman and Australia have begun to educate the locals about the dangers of overfishing, and the importance of the ecosystem. Many schemes are being implemented to reduce accidental catches of unwanted species such as turtles. In Tioman especially where turtle eggs are a delicacy, the natives are being discouraged from eating turtle eggs.

Political:Although not something you would associate with change at first, politics has played a crucial role in shaping the situation in both GBR and Tioman. In Tioman for example, it is the government that is continuing with plans to develop a marina and international airport on Tioman Island, despite heavy protests. Another example would be the political stance of the previous Australian administration which refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol which seeks to curb the emissions of greenhouse emissions and thus reduce sea levels and the sea temperature, both of which are rising at an alarming rate. Both of these issues are relevant, and thus are either factors causing or contributing to the change that is taking place.

However there are reasons behind such moves. The view of the government of Malaysia, as mentioned before is that the Marina and Airport are necessary to boost the Tiomanese economy and develop the island. In regards to the Kyoto protocol, the argument used by the John Howard administration was that the economy was booming and curtailing it to implement greenhouse reducing schemes would have meant stopping progress and cutting jobs. [t9]

Economic:The income from both Tioman and GBR is sizeable, and extremely important to their respective governments. It is for this reason that change is being implemented. However it is arguable whether the ends justify the means that are being used to achieve said ends. It the case of Tioman, it would be the development of the Airport and the Marina. Although these structures promise to bring prosperity to Tioman, will it destroy the very beauty that people from all over the world come to see? These are the questions that need answering.

It is here that the economic interests clash most clearly with environmental concerns. It is obvious that the speed at which change is occurring for economic needs cannot be sustained. The negatives here are clear, i.e. the destruction of the natural habitat.

In Australia, such need for compromise is less obvious, however the choice still needs to be made between relentless development of land and the environment. Although the economy of the region is getting stronger and stronger, it is doing so at the cost of Reef.

Social interaction:Although corporate profiting doesn’t come into play due to the nature of the marine reserves, there is a certain degree of greed that drives the governments of both nations. In the struggle to get economically stronger, they seem to be implementing a great deal of change into the system. The Tioman government wishes to develop Tioman island to attract tourists, and the Australian government wishes to put off environmental concerns for the time being to focus on growth.

Although such gain is important, the negative here is that it is being done at the cost of environment. Although there are awareness campaigns set up, primarily by NGOs, they still don’t have the desired impact, and a great deal more still needs to be done.

Conclusion:I would like to start my conclusion by saying that the results were quite similar to what I expected at the start of this study. It is clear that human impact for the most part, has had a pernicious impact on the environment. When change occurs too fast for the local ecosystem to cope with, as is happening right now, one will see the effects it has on thousands of living organisms nearby.

My recommendations for sustainable development would center around the below tenants:

Awareness:It is only by improving awareness about a matter like destruction of coral reefs, can we get others to understand their significance. It is important to let the locals know about the impact of their actions and the impact of those around them. It is also important to instill a multilevel form on think. Rather than following a simple logical argument that says developing the island will get more jobs, make them understand that if during construction the island’s beauty is destroyed, no one will want to come to Tioman and as a result, there will be less jobs there than there were in the first place

Stricter Regulation:Stricter monitoring of protected areas should be enforced to restrict the loss of corals to illegal activity.

Action on climate change:Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint will pay long term dividends considering the amount of greenhouse gases that are already being pumped into the atmosphere, and ratifying treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol is the first step to doing so

Investment in new technology:Investing in new technology that can either better handle the existing damage done to coral reefs or promote healthy reefs is always a great idea. For example, the recently developed mineral accretion technology helps increase the size of reefs by stimulating coral growth.

Bibliography:All images are marked in the body of the work as [i(image number)], e.g. [i1] as opposed to text based information which is marked [t(text source number)] e.g. [t1]. All sources follow the MLA Format unless specified otherwise.

Images:[i1]: Reef Map Coverage

[i2]: A Map of Palau Tioman

[i3]: Bleaching Corals

Information:[t1]: "Great Barrier Reef." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 21 Oct 2007, 02:47 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 21 Oct 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Barrier_Reef&oldid=165973507>.

[t2]: “Virtual World: The Great Barrier Reef.” nationalgeographic.com. 21 Oct. 2007

<http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ ‌ earthpulse/ ‌ reef/ ‌ reef1_flash.html >.

[t3]: "Environmental threats to the Great Barrier Reef." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Sep 2007, 13:07 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 21 Oct 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_threats_to_the_Great_Barrier_Reef&oldid=157145620>.

[t4] “Water Quality: From catchment to reef.” Reef Futures. 2003. The Australian Government. 21 Oct. 2007

<http://www.reeffutures.org/ ‌ topics/ ‌ waterquality.cfm >.

[t5] “Principal water quality influences on Great Barrier Reef ecosystems.” The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

2007. The Australian Government. 21 Oct. 2007 <http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/ ‌ corp_site/ ‌ key_issues/ ‌ water_quality/ ‌

principal_influences.html>.

[t6]: Woodford, J., (2004). "Great? Barrier Reef.", Australian Geographic vol 76, page 37-55. (Book, not cited using the MLA)

[t7]: "Tioman Island." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Dec 2007, 21:25 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Dec 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tioman_Island&oldid=175572335>.

[t8]: "Great Barrier Reef," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2007http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

[t9]: "Kyoto Protocol." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2007, 17:25 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Dec 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyoto_Protocol&oldid=176595489>.