Marine ecosystems

Joint initiative between IUCN and WWF for addressing the need to protect the highly valuable deep sea ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Is included for the first time a comprehensive proposal for conservation firmly based in virtually all scientific information currently available.

By far the largest habitat for life on earth and the cradle of new species, habitats and undiscovered ecosystems, our oceans are being intensively exploited and heavily degraded. Marine Protected Areas can be used to restore, safeguard and halt the negative impacts on the biodiversity of these oceans.

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 world’s mangrove forests have been cleared without understanding the enormous value of these muddy coastal forests. Seagrass beds have had similar losses in many areas. This book was written for practicing resource managers and educators in developing countries.

Marine waters comprise by far the most extensive major ecosystem on the planet. WCMC has produced a region by region account of select issues in marine biological diversity: descriptive text on marine ecosystems, elements of biodiversity (including estimates of species richness and endemism), and marine fisheries. The aim is to help develop an integrated approach to management of marine and coastal biodiversity.

Presents research results on LMEs including identification of the major driving forces causing large-scale changes in biomass yields and health; development of ecosystem component models; and monitoring and assessment strategies and techniques for measuring changing states of LMEs. Covers contributions from 68 marine scientists from 14 countries.

This report signals a new approach to ocean monitoring and management that lays a solid base using the principles of ecology and sustainable development while transcending traditional geopolitical and disciplinary divisions. LMEs are relatively large regions, often including the territorial waters of more than one nation, thus making coordination of monitoring and management highly desirable.