rolph payet, 2003
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Small Island States Why are Coral Reefs Important to us?. Rolph Payet, 2003. From Where ?. Coral Reefs or Islands- which came first? Volcanic Islands – Fringing/Barrier Reefs…....Atolls Coral Islands – Carbonate deposits, sand cays and Reefs Granitic Islands – Fringing reefs - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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