WRI Publications Feed: Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean

Arrecifes en Peligro en el Caribe

Richard Waite — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean Data CD

Richard Waite — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Included on the CD are over thirty spatial data sets reflecting physical, environmental and socioeconomic variables for the Wider Caribbean as well as results from the modeling of human pressure on coral reefs in the region.

The CD also includes user-friendly map viewing software (ESRI ArcReader), which requires no specialist knowledge to use. You will be able to view the data sets in detail, pan and zoom to areas of interest, view data layers individually or in combination, query datasets, and print maps of your choice.

The CD also provides:

The Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean report in PDF format (English and Spanish versions);

Detailed country profiles for 35 Caribbean countries and territories (including information on status of, threats to, and protection of coral reefs and information on fisheries and status of exploitation);

Full technical notes on the threat modeling method;

Technical notes on data sources and methods for the economic valuation;

Complete set of maps in high and low resolution JPEG format.

To order a copy of the CD, contact reefsatrisk@wri.org.

Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean

Richard Waite — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Many people in coastal communities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean depend on the natural resources provided by reefs for their livelihoods. Ensuring proper management of the reefs is vital for the economic and environmental health of the region, but there is a lack of quality information about the relationship between human activities and coral reef condition across the region. The Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean project was a response to this information need. The primary goal of the project was to raise awareness and improve management of coral reefs across the region through improving the knowledge base on the status of and threats to coral reefs. In collaboration with partner institutions across the region, we implemented an analysis to link human activities with reef condition. A major component of the project involved modeling (estimating) threat to coral reefs from human activities.

Key findings from this report include:

Nearly two-thirds of coral reefs in the Caribbean are threatened by human activities. Integrating threat levels from all sources considered in this analysis (coastal development, watershed-based sediment and pollution, marine based threats, and overfishing), the Reefs at Risk Threat Index identified about one-tenth of Caribbean coral reefs at very high levels of threat, one-third at high threat, one fifth at medium threat, and one-third at low threat.
An estimated one-third of Caribbean coral reefs are threatened by coastal development. This includes sewage discharge, urban runoff, construction, and tourist development.
Sediment and pollution from inland sources threaten about one-third of Caribbean coral reefs. Analysis of more than 3,000 watersheds across the region identified 20 percent of coral reefs at high threat and about 15 percent at medium threat from damage caused by increased sediment and pollution from agricultural lands and other land modification.
Marine-based threats to coral reefs are widespread across the Caribbean. Our indicator of marine-based damage and pollution identified about 15 percent of Caribbean reefs as threatened by discharge of wastewater from cruise ships, tankers and yachts, leaks or spills from oil infrastructure, and damage from ship groundings and anchors.
Overfishing threatens over 60 percent of Caribbean coral reefs. Fishing above sustainable levels affects coral reefs by altering the ecological balance of the reef. The removal of herbivorous fish, which consume algae, facilitates algal overgrowth of corals. Declines in coral cover and increases in algal cover have been observed across the region. This analysis identified about one-third of Caribbean reefs at high threat from overfishing pressure and about 30 percent at medium threat.
Diseases and rising sea temperatures threaten to damage coral reefs across the Caribbean region. Diseases have caused profound changes in Caribbean coral reefs in the past 30 years, with very few areas unscathed by disease, even reefs far removed from human influence. In addition, coral bleaching episodes-the most direct evidence of stress from global climate change on Caribbean marine biodiversity-are on the rise.
Ineffective management of protected areas further threatens Caribbean coral reefs. With the growth of tourism, fisheries, and other development in coral reef areas, marine protected areas (MPAs) are an important tool for safeguarding coral reefs. At present, over 285 MPAs have been declared across the Caribbean, but the level of protection afforded by MPAs varies considerably. The Reefs at Risk Project found only 6 percent of MPAs to be rated as effectively managed and 13 percent as having partially effective management.
The coastal communities and national economies of the Caribbean region are poised to sustain substantial economic losses if current trends in coral reef degradation continue. Coral reefs provide valuable goods and services to support local and national economies, and degradation of coral reefs can lead to significant economic losses, particularly in the coastal areas of developing countries, through loss of fishing livelihoods, malnutrition due to lack of protein, loss of tourism revenues, and increased coastal erosion. Analyses carried out by the Reefs at Risk project indicate that Caribbean coral reefs provide goods and services with an annual net economic value in 2000 estimated at between US$3.1 billion and US$4.6 billion from fisheries, dive tourism, and shoreline protection services.

Related Projects

Reefs at Risk in Belize

Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean: Threats to coral reefs from land-based sources of pollution

Richard Waite — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Coral reefs support many economic activities and livelihoods. They provide habitat for fish and shellfish fisheries, a valuable source of protein and livelihood for many coastal communities. Coral reefs are an important attraction for tourists, supporting the lucrative dive tourism industry, and enhance coastal tourism in general through allowing the development and existence of white sand beaches. Coral reefs, and associated mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, protect shorelines, by reducing storm impact and routine erosion from waves. In addition, the profound biodiversity of these ecosystems has enormous value as a potential provider of life-saving pharmaceuticals, and for their pure aesthetic and spiritual value.

However, rising population densities, associated coastal development, and increased fishing, agricultural, and industrial activities are resulting in increased pressure on Caribbean coral reefs. The extent and degree of stress has increased markedly in the last 30 years and a wide range of human activities directly threaten coral reefs, resulting in degradation in many areas. Although pressure on coral reefs will increase as population grows and development increases, better management can help reduce the threat and protect these valuable ecosystems. As an aid to better management, the Reefs at Risk model produces map-based indicators, which are a simplification of human activities and complex natural processes, to gauge potential human pressure on coral reefs. Here, we present an overview of the indicators for land-based sources of threat to reefs.