Coral
Marine and Coastal Monitoring Framework

The Marine and Coastal Monitoring (MACMON) Framework is a social-ecological systems framework for monitoring coral reef conservation and management.

Effective conservation that benefits people and nature requires a social-ecological systems approach that recognizes the interactions between ecosystems and the people that depend on them. The Marine and Coastal Monitoring (MACMON) Framework is one of the first social-ecological systems monitoring frameworks for conservation. It was developed through a transdisciplinary process involving academics and conservation practitioners and scientists, with the aim of supporting WCS’s Global Coral Reef Program in identifying the social and ecological outcomes of their coral reef conservation and management initiatives.

The MACMON Framework has been implemented in more than 150 sites in six countries (Indonesia, Fiji, Kenya, Madagascar, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea) and the resulting data are informing decision-making at multiple levels from sites to country- and region-wide processes. It has also underpinned the development of social-ecological systems monitoring programs adopted by government agencies in several other countries, including Cuba and Mozambique.

The Macmon Framework Toolkit

Global social-ecological systems monitoring framework for coastal fisheries management

Guide for implementing household and key informant interviews

Guide for analyzing data from household and key informant interviews

Implementing a social-ecological systems framework for conservation monitoring

The MACMON Framework Publications

The MACMON Framework and the resulting data have been featured in a number of peer-reviewed publications, yielding insights into diverse issues in conservation from conservation outcomes, equitable governance, management effectiveness, gender equality to social adaptive capacity. Additionally, the MACMON Framework data were used as a part of the work of the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) Coastal Outcomes Working Group.

Ban, N., E. Darling, G. Gurney, W. Friedman, S. Jupiter, W. Lestari, I. Yulianto, S. Pardede, S. Tarigan, P. Prihatiningsih, S. Mangubhai, W. Naisilisili, S. Dulunaqio, J. Naggea, R. Ranaivoson, V. Agostini, G, Ahmadia, J. Blythe, S. Campbell, J. Claudet, C. Cox, G. Epstein, Estradivari, M. Fox, D. Gill, A. Himes-Cornell, H. Jonas, E. Mcleod, N. Muthiga, T. McClanahan. 2023. Effects of management objectives and rules on marine conservation outcomes. Conservation Biology: 37: e14156. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14156

Cox, M., G. Gurney, J. Andries, E. Coleman, E. Darling, G. Epstein, U. Frey, M. Nenadovic, E. Schlager et al. 2021. Lessons learned from synthetic research projects based on the Ostrom Workshop frameworks. Ecology and Society 26(1):17. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12092-260117

D’agata, S., E. Darling, G. Gurney, T. McClanahan, N. Muthiga, A. Rabearisoa, J. Maina. 2020. Multiscale determinants of social adaptive capacity in small-scale fishing communities. Environmental Science & Policy 108: 56-66.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.03.006

Harper, S., G. Gurney, E. Darling, S. Mangubhai, S. Jupiter, P. Lestari, K. Holmes, S. Sumaryati, S. Sulisyati, M. Fox, and N. Ban. 2024. Gender differences in the perceived impacts of coastal management and conservation. npj Ocean Sustainability, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-024-00070-w

Maire, E., S. D’agata, C. Aliaume, D. Mouillot, E. Darling, V. Ramahery, R. Ranaivoson, B. Randriamanantsoa, T. Tianarisoa, A. Santisy, J. Cinner. 2020. Disentangling the complex roles of markets on coral reefs in northwest Madagascar. Ecology & Society 25(3):23. https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol25/iss3/art23...

McClanahan, T., E. Darling, S. Mangubhai, G. Gurney, P. Lestari, M. Fox, S. Jupiter, A. Yulistianti, N.Muthiga, and S. D’agata. 2021. Views of management effectiveness in tropical reef fisheries. Fish and Fisheries, 22(5), https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12570.

Ruano-Chamorro, C., G. Gurney, S. Mangubhai, M. Fox, J. Lau, W. Naisilisili, S. Dulunaqio, J. Cinner. 2024. Perceived equity in marine management and conservation: Exploring gender intersectionality in Fiji. Biological Conservation 296: 110692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110692

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