IUCN, Global Marine Programme

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems, providing a source of income, food and coastal protection for millions of people. Pollution, habitat destruction, disease and unsustainable fishing have led to declines in reef condition throughout the world. Added to this, the threat of mass coral bleaching has recently emerged, causing extensive coral mortality to nearly every coral reef region.

Vast changes in the seas are destroying the world’s precious coral reefs at an unprecedented rate and scale. Burgeoning populations, destructive fishing practices, coastal development, sedimentation from forest clearing and unsound agricultural practices, expanding tourism, and increasing pollution are the primary agents of human impact.

Building resilience into mangrove conservation plans requires an understanding of how mangroves will respond to climate changes, what factors help them survive these changes, and, consequently, which mangroves are most likely to survive these changes. This publication provides a welcome reference for all stakeholders in mangroves, especially coastal communities, to assist them in encouraging decision makers to apply resilience principles in all development and conservation programmes.

Aquaculture is an important economic activity in coastal areas of many countries. It offers opportunities to alleviate poverty, boosts employment, helps community development, reduces overexploitation of natural coastal resources, and enhances food security. It is one of the fastest growing sectors within fisheries.

La Gouvernance en Méditerranée au-delà des mers territoriales étant une problématique relativement complexe, le Centre UICN pour la Coopération en Méditerranée à travers le sous groupe Méditerranéen pour le droit et la gouvernance de la mer (MMLSG) a développé ce document qui présente le statut juridique de la Mer Méditerranée, les difficultés et les défis à relever.

The deep ocean is increasingly recognized as a major global reservoir of the Earth's biodiversity, although but a small fraction of the oceans' ecosystems found at depths below 200 meters have been studied. This report presents findings on the current extent, location and value of high seas bottom trawl fisheries worldwide and the countries involved.

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. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an important tool for marine conservation and management. This book provides practical advice on how to design and implement ecological and socio-economic monitoring programmes aimed at addressing these issues.