News


Children on the waterfront, Selayar. (Photo: A Hooten)

Understanding dynamics in coastal communities


In el nido

The systems analysis team is using the results from focus group discussions to develop simulation models. A modelling workshop was held at the Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, in May to commence the development of the models and reconcile data requirements based on the dynamic hypothesis developed as part of the focus group discussion outcomes.

The group — comprising members from Palawan State University, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, the Marine Science Institute at the University of the Philippines, and The University of Queensland — are working on the development of the systems models covering the socio-economic problems of fisheries decline, water quality, mangrove decline and food insecurity. All four teams have now developed models around these problems. The models will be validated with stakeholders in October.

In Selayar

The systems analysis team for Indonesia consisting of Dr Luky Adrianto, Dr Novie Setianto and Mr Suryo Kusumo (IPB), Mr Siham Afatta, Dr Carl Smith and Dr Russell Richards (UQ) undertook the second round of focus group discussions in January this year.

Workshops were held in six sub-districts within Selayar, and the team used these opportunities to update the results from their first round of discussions gathered in 2015. Following completion of the second round, the team has been developing the stock and flow model structure and identifying existing data sets that can be used for model parameters, for the simulation model development.

The models will be validated with the villages in Selayar during November.