This report was written to provide an overview, without the use of scientific jargon, of the status of coral reefs and causes of reef decline, with recommendations for action by national authorities.
Author(s):
Wilkinson, Clive R.
Organization(s):
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), AU
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), UK
UNEP
IUCN
World Bank, Environment Department
WorldFish Center, MY
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Secretariat
The tsunamis of Sunday 26 December 2004 struck without apparent warning on a clear day. Not only was there a devastating loss of life, but coastal resources and infrastructure in the Indian Ocean suffered massive destruction as well.
Author(s):
Wilkinson, Clive R.
Souter, David
Goldberg, Jeremy
Organization(s):
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), AU
Australia, AusAID
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Secretariat
Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO)
Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, AU
This report was written to provide an overview, without the use of scientific jargon, of the status of coral reefs and causes of reef decline, with recommendations for action by national authorities.
Author(s):
Wilkinson, Clive R.
Organization(s):
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), AU
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), UK
UNEP
IUCN
World Bank, Environment Department
WorldFish Center, MY
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Secretariat
Coral reefs are at risk from many threats including global warming causing coral bleaching, over fishing or destructive fishing, pollution by sediments, nutrients and toxic chemicals, coral mining and shoreline development and unregulated tourism.
27% of the world's coral reefs have been lost and 14% are predicted to be destroyed in the next 10 to 20 years. These are the predictions of the world's most authoritative document on the health of reef systems.
This report was written to provide an overview, without the use of scientific jargon, of the status of coral reefs and causes of reef decline, with recommendations for action by national authorities.
Coral reef management has focused traditionally on the biophysical aspects of coral reefs, but today reefs are coming under increasing pressures from human activities. Understanding the socioeconomic context of reef stakeholders is essential for assessing, predicting and managing reef use.
11% of all coral reefs have been damaged beyond recovery or totally destroyed; another 16% were damaged in 1998 by climate change related to coral bleaching. More than 50% of the worlds mangrove forests have been cleared without understanding the enormous value of these muddy coastal forests.
A global overview of the potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coral reefs, and of the implications of such impacts for ecological sustainable use of coral reefs.
