Marine ecosystems

The CORDIO programme, which started in 1999 as a pragmatic response to the impacts of global warming on coral reefs, has over the years improved our knowledge and management of coral reefs. Data collection in the Curieuse Marine Park in the Seychelles was instrumental in guiding government policy over the management of marine protected areas, especially those that have resilient coral ecosystems.

An enclosed sea such as the Mediterranean is particularly susceptible to ship-associated impacts due to the high volume of shipping routes, long history of use, shallow sensitive habitats and sensitive deep-sea ecosystems. This report describes the potential effects of maritime traffic in the Mediterranean and explores legal mechanisms that could be implemented to facilitate management and mitigation of impacts.

An enclosed sea such as the Mediterranean is particularly susceptible to ship-associated impacts due to the high volume of shipping routes, long history of use, shallow sensitive habitats and sensitive deep-sea ecosystems. This report describes the potential effects of maritime traffic in the Mediterranean and recommends management and mitigation measures.

The main aim of this report is to assess progress towards a network of ecologically representative and effectively managed MPAs that meets international obligations for conservation of the Mediterranean Sea. Specifically, results of this survey were used to measure Mediterranean progress towards the CBD targets of establishing a coherent network of MPAs by 2012 and to protect at least 10% of the Mediterranean Sea by 2010.

This book is a product of the Marine Conservation Sub-Committee, an advisory body on marine species issues within IUCN. The book features twelve stories of different ocean animals that highlight the latest issues in marine conservation. The tales in this exquisitely illustrated book are testament not only to the eccentricity of life in our oceans, but also the diversity of challenges and opportunities we face to conserve these marine marvels.

Seagrasses are flowering plants that thrive in shallow oceanic and estuarine waters around the world. Although there are only about 60 species of seagrasses worldwide, these plants play an important role in many shallow, near-shore, marine ecosystems. There is growing evidence that seagrasses are declining globally because of anthropogenic impacts. This paper presents an overview of seagrasses, the impacts of climate change, and other threats to seagrass habitats.

Seagrass meadows and sand dunes are lesser known coastal ecosystems that are located landward from coral reefs and sometimes seaward from mangroves. (At other times mangroves lie between seagrasses and sand dunes.) These ecosystems are also important for coastal communities because of the services they provide and are critical components of a vital, interdependent and interconnected series of coastal ecosystems.

Corals are a vital component of marine ecosystems. They provide food and protection for a huge variety of fish and marine life; are crucial to sustaining livelihoods among coastal populations; and a key mechanism for ensuring the protection of low-lying coastal areas. Despite their importance, the world’s coral reefs are being destroyed and disappearing at an alarming rate.

The objective of these guidelines is to evolve a systematically designed common approach for rehabilitation of a vegetation buffer stable enough to absorb the devastating energy of natural disasters. These Guidelines provide implementers with a quick reference to the procedures. For a more thorough and technical overview of the methodology it is necessary to refer to the technical guidelines below.