Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Secretariat

Provides guidance for local stakeholder, managers and policy makers on appropriate management approaches for coral reefs that have been severely degraded through bleaching or other causes. The widespread bleaching event in the western Indian Ocean in 1998-9 provides a general case study that will result in recommendations of value to reef managers in all regions

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. This book focuses on the impacts on the natural coastal resources, especially the coral reefs and associated ecosystems, and the responses by the international community.

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. This second edition is a major expansion and improvement on the first edition written in 1998.

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region is renowned for the attractiveness of its coastal zones, high marine biodiversity and rich marine and coastal resources, but the 30 million or so people who live on the coast of the WIO region have had a significant impact on its biodiversity.

The Ecosystem Approach, defined as a strategy for the management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way, was adopted at the Second Conference of the Parties of the CBD as the primary framework for action under the Convention. It puts people and their nature resource use practices squarely at the centre of the decision-making framework.

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. Released by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), a consortium of major reef monitoring groups in the world, in partnership with IUCN - The World Conservation Union and others, the new report reveals an erratic pattern of damage and recovery worldwide.