Rolph Payet, 2003

From Where ?From Where ?

Coral Reefs or Islands- which came first?Coral Reefs or Islands- which came first?Volcanic Islands – Fringing/Barrier Reefs…....AtollsVolcanic Islands – Fringing/Barrier Reefs…....AtollsCoral Islands – Carbonate deposits, sand cays and ReefsCoral Islands – Carbonate deposits, sand cays and Reefs

Granitic Islands – Fringing reefsGranitic Islands – Fringing reefs

There is still a number of unanswered questions and theories, There is still a number of unanswered questions and theories, however it is clear that:however it is clear that:

many islands would not exist without corals, and many islands would not exist without corals, and reefs would not be as wide spread without islands.reefs would not be as wide spread without islands.

Global ImportanceGlobal Importance

Diversity of coral reefs are much higher Diversity of coral reefs are much higher around islands than along continental around islands than along continental coastscoasts

Islands are important stepping stones in Islands are important stepping stones in maintaining global populations and maintaining global populations and diversity of reefsdiversity of reefs

40 % of the worlds coral reefs are found 40 % of the worlds coral reefs are found around islands around islands

60,000 km2, or 21% of global total of coral 60,000 km2, or 21% of global total of coral reefs areas lie within SIDSreefs areas lie within SIDS

Living Coral = Island LifeLiving Coral = Island Life

Dead Coral = Island PovertyDead Coral = Island Poverty

Major Threats to Coral ReefsMajor Threats to Coral Reefs

1.1. Direct Human – Pollution, Direct Human – Pollution, Sedimentation, Destructive Fishing, Sedimentation, Destructive Fishing, Diseases, Reclamation Diseases, Reclamation

2.2. Indirect Human – Climate Change, Indirect Human – Climate Change, Bleaching, Invasive SpeciesBleaching, Invasive Species

3.3. Natural – UV, Long-term Cycles in Natural – UV, Long-term Cycles in the earth’s systemthe earth’s system

Status of Reefs in SIDSStatus of Reefs in SIDS

Island State Reef Mortality Pre-1998

Reef Mortality Post-1998 (bleaching event)

Reefs at Risk Indicator Regional Summary

Low Medium High Caribbean 21% 1% 39% 32% 29% Highest risk due to direct

impacts Barbados 43% Trinidad & Tobago - 1-2% ~4% Indian Ocean 13% 46% 46% 29% 25% Highest risk due to elevated sea-

surface temperatures (SST) Comoros - 40-50% Mauritius - 15% Maldives ~4% 60-90% Seychelles 5% 50-90% Pacific 4% 5% 59% 31% 10% Relatively unaffected but at risk

form live coral trade and SST Federal States of Micronesia - 5% Palau - ~50% Source: Wilkinson 200,2002; Bryant et al. 1998; Linden et al. (CORDIO) 2002); Goreau et al., 2000.

Why a resolution ?Why a resolution ?

Recognise the importance of coral reefs to Recognise the importance of coral reefs to islandsislands

Continued increase in direct threats Continued increase in direct threats through lack of political will, capacity and through lack of political will, capacity and monitoringmonitoring

Continued increase in indirect threats Continued increase in indirect threats through lack of global consensus to through lack of global consensus to address the issue of climate changeaddress the issue of climate change

Sustainable development is directly Sustainable development is directly hampered by degradation of coral reefshampered by degradation of coral reefs

Resolution OverviewResolution Overview Call upon SIDS to endorse and implement ICRI’s Call upon SIDS to endorse and implement ICRI’s

Call to ActionCall to Action Put in place measures to address coral reef Put in place measures to address coral reef

degradationdegradation Improve knowledge on the state of reefsImprove knowledge on the state of reefs Recognise the interconnectedness of coral reef Recognise the interconnectedness of coral reef

populations and designing representative populations and designing representative protected areas networksprotected areas networks

Develop national capacitiesDevelop national capacities Call upon the international community to support Call upon the international community to support

tangible coral reef initiatives in Small Island tangible coral reef initiatives in Small Island StatesStates

Next StepsNext Steps

1.1. Adoption by ICRI of the Small Island States Adoption by ICRI of the Small Island States Resolution;Resolution;

2.2. Presentation of the Adopted Resolution at the 2Presentation of the Adopted Resolution at the 2ndnd Regional AIMS group meeting in early January in Regional AIMS group meeting in early January in Seychelles;Seychelles;

3.3. Insertion of the resolution in the BPOA+10 Work Insertion of the resolution in the BPOA+10 Work programme/theme at the Final Inter-Regional programme/theme at the Final Inter-Regional Meeting for the SIDS;Meeting for the SIDS;

4.4. Discussion and presentation of the resolution to Discussion and presentation of the resolution to CBD COP in Malaysia (March ?);CBD COP in Malaysia (March ?);

5.5. Adoption of the Resolution at the SIDS meeting Adoption of the Resolution at the SIDS meeting in Mauritius, mid-2004in Mauritius, mid-2004

Coral Reef at the Centre of Coral Reef at the Centre of Development in SeychellesDevelopment in SeychellesCredits: Roger Bour

Credits: Roger Bour

Coral Reef set aside as World Coral Reef set aside as World Heritage in SeychellesHeritage in Seychelles

ThankThank you you