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Dirk BryantDirk Bryant
Lauretta BurkeLauretta Burke
John McManusJohn McManus
Mark SpaldingMark Spalding
A collaboration of
World Resources Institute
International Center for Living AquaticResources Management
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
United Nations Environment Programme
Coral Reefs as mapped by Coral Reefs as mapped by DarwinDarwin
Reefs At RiskReefs At Risk is the first ... is the first ...
Systematic assessment of threats to the Systematic assessment of threats to the world’s coral reefsworld’s coral reefs
Global map showing location of reefs at riskGlobal map showing location of reefs at risk
The The Reefs at RiskReefs at Risk Indicator Indicator
LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh
Results are sobering ...Results are sobering ...
Nearly 60% of the world’s reefs were found Nearly 60% of the world’s reefs were found to be at risk from human activitiesto be at risk from human activities
Reefs with the highest levels of biodiversity Reefs with the highest levels of biodiversity are threatened are threatened
Most U.S. reefs are at riskMost U.S. reefs are at risk
Why Reefs MatterWhy Reefs Matter
Coral reefs are often called Coral reefs are often called the “Rainforests of the Sea”the “Rainforests of the Sea”
About 4,000 species of fish and 800 species About 4,000 species of fish and 800 species of reef-building coral have been identifiedof reef-building coral have been identified
Coral reefs are a vital protein Coral reefs are a vital protein source for many ...source for many ...
Globally, one-fifth of all animal protein Globally, one-fifth of all animal protein consumed by humans comes from marine consumed by humans comes from marine environmentsenvironments
Coral reefs provideCoral reefs providefood for one billionfood for one billionpeople in Asia alonepeople in Asia alone
Beach-related tourism is a Beach-related tourism is a major revenue earner ...major revenue earner ...
Florida’s reefs contribute $1.6 billion to the Florida’s reefs contribute $1.6 billion to the economy from tourism aloneeconomy from tourism alone
Caribbean countries Caribbean countries derive half of their derive half of their GDP from tourismGDP from tourism($8.9 billion in 1990)($8.9 billion in 1990)
Coral reefs can save human Coral reefs can save human lives.lives.Extracts are used to ...Extracts are used to ...
Treat infections, viruses, and other diseasesTreat infections, viruses, and other diseases
Prevent and treat skin cancerPrevent and treat skin cancer
Provide bone graftsProvide bone grafts
Coral reefs are a valuable Coral reefs are a valuable resource resource
Average Global Value of Ecosystem Services ($/HA/YR)
From Costanza et al.
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
Coral Reefs
Tropical Forests
Temperate Forests
The Reefs at Risk The Reefs at Risk IndicatorIndicator
Global distribution of coral Global distribution of coral reefsreefs
The The ReefsReefs at Risk at Risk indicator ... indicator ...
First global map of First global map of likelylikely threats to coral reefs threats to coral reefs
Predicts Predicts threat,threat, not actual reef condition not actual reef condition
We predicted threat based on We predicted threat based on proximity to damaging human proximity to damaging human activity...activity...
Using a geographic information system (GIS) Using a geographic information system (GIS) computer modelcomputer model
Incorporating 800 reef locations known to be Incorporating 800 reef locations known to be degraded as benchmarksdegraded as benchmarks
Using 14 global mapsUsing 14 global maps
Coral reef experts from around Coral reef experts from around the world helped ...the world helped ...
Develop the computer model Develop the computer model
Revise dataRevise data
Review resultsReview results
Threats to reefs from four Threats to reefs from four broad categories ...broad categories ...
Coastal developmentCoastal development
Marine pollutionMarine pollution
Overexploitation of resourcesOverexploitation of resources
Inland pollution and sedimentsInland pollution and sediments
Coastal development ...Coastal development ...
Dredging Dredging Construction Construction
materialsmaterials Building on reefsBuilding on reefs Nutrients from Nutrients from
sewage sewage Sediments Sediments Unregulated Unregulated
tourismtourism
Tourists can love reefs to Tourists can love reefs to deathdeath
Coastal development stress Coastal development stress factors ... factors ...
CitiesCities
SettlementsSettlements
Airports and military basesAirports and military bases
MinesMines
Tourist resortsTourist resorts
CitiesCities
SettlementsSettlements
Airports and military basesAirports and military bases
MinesMines
Tourist resortsTourist resorts
Estimated threat from coastal Estimated threat from coastal developmentdevelopment
LowLow
MediumMedium
HighHigh
Marine pollutionMarine pollution
Oil spillsOil spills
Discharge of oily Discharge of oily ballast waterballast water
Marine pollution stress factorsMarine pollution stress factors
PortsPorts
Oil tanks and wellsOil tanks and wells
Areas of intense shipping trafficAreas of intense shipping traffic
PortsPorts
Oil tanks and wellsOil tanks and wells
Areas of intense shipping trafficAreas of intense shipping traffic
Overexploitation and Overexploitation and destructive fishingdestructive fishing
Muro Ami Muro Ami Fishing Fishing
Overfishing
Destructive fishing damages Destructive fishing damages reefsreefs
Blast fishingBlast fishing
Fishing with Fishing with cyanidecyanide
Destructive fishing practices Destructive fishing practices in in Southeast Asia are Southeast Asia are widespreadwidespread
Areas atHigh Risk
Rivers transport inland Rivers transport inland pollution directly to reefspollution directly to reefs
Soil sediments Soil sediments resulting from resulting from deforestationdeforestation
Inappropriate Inappropriate agricultural agricultural practicespractices
Inland pollution and erosion Inland pollution and erosion
Erosion Erosion potential potential modeled for modeled for 3000 3000 watershedswatersheds
Estimated Estimated sediment sediment “plume” at “plume” at river mouthriver mouth
Integrated results:Integrated results:The The Reefs at RiskReefs at Risk indicator indicator
LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh
58% of the world’s reefs are at 58% of the world’s reefs are at risk from human activitiesrisk from human activities
Low42%
Medium31%
High27%
Finding 1
Reefs of Southeast Asia are Reefs of Southeast Asia are the most threatenedthe most threatened
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Finding 2
Many areas of high diversity are Many areas of high diversity are also very threatenedalso very threatened
LowLow
MediumMedium
HighHigh
Finding 3
Almost two-thirds of Almost two-thirds of Caribbean reefs are Caribbean reefs are threatenedthreatened
LowLow
MediumMedium
HighHigh
JamaicaJamaica
BarbadosBarbados
U.S. Virgin U.S. Virgin IslandsIslands
Finding 4
Coral graveyardsCoral graveyards
Most reefs within U.S. waters Most reefs within U.S. waters are threatenedare threatened
FloridaPuerto Rico and U.S.Virgin Islands Hawaii
LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh
Finding 5
Overexploitation and coastal Overexploitation and coastal development are the greatest development are the greatest threats to reefsthreats to reefs
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Finding 6
Virtually no reef can be Virtually no reef can be considered pristine todayconsidered pristine today
ReefCheck survey finds most reefs overfishedReefCheck survey finds most reefs overfished
90%
The world’s reefs are not The world’s reefs are not sufficiently protected ...sufficiently protected ...
40 countries contain no protected reef areas 40 countries contain no protected reef areas
Management goals of most marine Management goals of most marine protected areas (MPAs) are not metprotected areas (MPAs) are not met
Finding 7
12 threatened reefs profiled12 threatened reefs profiled
Reefs and people can co-existReefs and people can co-exist
Treating sewage protects Treating sewage protects reefs and human healthreefs and human health
Eliminating perverse subsidies Eliminating perverse subsidies protects reefsprotects reefs
Signs of PromiseSigns of Promise
Combating threats to coral Combating threats to coral reefs ...reefs ...
Solutions includeSolutions include• environment-friendly economic opportunitiesenvironment-friendly economic opportunities• coastal zone planning and managementcoastal zone planning and management• educationeducation• participatory decision-makingparticipatory decision-making• enforcing lawsenforcing laws• protection (marine parks and reserves)protection (marine parks and reserves)
Solutions includeSolutions include• environment-friendly economic opportunitiesenvironment-friendly economic opportunities• coastal zone planning and managementcoastal zone planning and management• educationeducation• participatory decision-makingparticipatory decision-making• enforcing lawsenforcing laws• protection (marine parks and reserves)protection (marine parks and reserves)
Seven success stories profiledSeven success stories profiledSeven success stories profiled
ApoApo BermudaBermuda
Healthy ReefsHealthy Reefs
http://www.wri.org/wri/http://http://www.wri.org/wri/www.wri.org/wri/
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