University of Miami Launches new research on governance of Florida’s Coral Reef
MIAMI — With Florida’s Coral Reef experiencing increased environmental pressures, robust governance is essential for ensuring its long-term resilience. The University of Miami’s Robert K. Johnson Center for Marine Conservation has secured funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to support research aimed at evaluating and strengthening adaptive governance through Florida’s Coral Reef Resilience Program (FCRRP).
Traditionally, coral reef research in Florida has concentrated on natural science perspectives; however, this initiative employs social science to analyze governance processes and structures that affect reef resilience. The study will systematically document the development and current configuration of the FCRRP, assess its effectiveness as a governance system, and offer evidence-based recommendations to enhance its performance and outcomes.
The FCRRP represents an innovative public-private partnership that coordinates expertise, resources, and decision-making across multiple jurisdictions at a large ecosystem scale. As a “polycentric governance” system comprised of independent yet interconnected authorities, it offers the potential to increase adaptive capacity and improve management alignment with complex socio-ecological dynamics. Nonetheless, such systems are inherently complicated, requiring certain design features to operate effectively.
Rebecca Gruby, Director of the Robert K. Johnson Center for Marine Conservation at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, is a leading expert in polycentric ocean governance and will oversee the research.
Adopting a knowledge co-production approach, the research team will collaborate closely with FCRRP leadership and partners throughout the project to ensure that findings inform decision-making. Ultimately, this project aims to support the FCRRP in enhancing its role as Florida’s statewide stewardship partnership and improving coral reef resilience strategies and outcomes.
“There have been studies of polycentric governance in other major reef systems in Australia, Palau, and Hawai’i, for example, but comparable research focusing on Florida’s Coral Reef, one of the largest barrier reefs globally, has been notably lacking,” said Gruby.
“We are in a crucial moment for coral reef governance in Florida and globally. This project is an exciting opportunity to leverage social science research to support reef governance in Florida and share lessons learned with communities around the world facing similar challenges,” Gruby added.