Early stakeholder involvement using Group Model Building to identify ecological research questions and nature management options

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2024-12, Vol.209 (Pt A), p.117179, Article 117179
• Main Authors: Hanssen, Lucien, Leemans, Luuk H., Engel, M. Sabine, van der Geest, Matthijs, Lamers, Leon P.M., Smolders, Alfons J.P., van Tussenbroek, Brigitta I., Rouwette, Etienne, Christianen, Marjolijn J.A., van Katwijk, Marieke M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bonaire; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Ecology; Ecosystem; Group model building; Human pressures; Humans; Sargassum landings; Science-stakeholder interaction; Social-Ecological System; Stakeholder Participation
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117179

Many tropical coastal ecosystems face human pressures related to tourism, land or sea use. We developed a practical procedure to involve stakeholders in an early stage of an ecological research project to map the Social-Ecological System (SES) in our case study Lac Bay, Bonaire island, as well as to identify and prioritize ecological research questions and nature management options in relation to a recent new threat: massive sargassum landings. In our procedure we used the Group Model Building methodology for identifying drivers, key variables and feedback loops in this SES. The underlying mechanisms of driving feedbacks were revealed and shared during these sessions. We identified and prioritized urgent ecological research questions for the conservation of seagrass beds and mangrove forests, and practical measures for nature management in Lac Bay. Both were used in follow-up scientific research and nature management plans, illustrating the applicability of our procedure for early science-stakeholder interaction. •We present a flexible, practical procedure for early stakeholder involvement in an ecological research project.•Group Model Building proved instrumental to identify drivers, key variables and feedback loops in a Social-Ecological System.•Our procedure facilitates identification and prioritization of ecological research questions and nature management options.•Stakeholder meetings clarified that nature and tourism are tightly connected and sargassum influx is a newly identified threat to both.