WRI Stories Feed: Reefs at Risk - Analysis of Threats to Coral Reefs

Video: Protecting Coral Reefs

Lauretta Burke — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:18:46 -0500

Reef ecosystems face both local and global threats. Here is what needs to be done to ensure the world’s corals and mangroves are preserved.

This video talks about the upcoming Reefs at Risk Revisited project, and how placing an economic value on coral reefs and mangroves can help make the case for conservation. (Read the extended Q&A here.)

Protecting Coral Reefs: A Q&A With WRI's Lauretta Burke

Polly Ghazi — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:56:00 -0500

Lauretta Burke explains why President Bush’s recent designation of 195,000 square miles of coral rich marine habitat in the Pacific Ocean is important to global reef conservation efforts.

Lauretta, who leads WRI’s Reefs at Risk project, also discusses her team’s work on the Reefs at Risk project, as well as how the economic valuation of coral reefs can be used to make the case for conservation to policymakers.

Right-click to download (MP3, 7:57, 7.3 Mb)

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LAURETTA BURKE: It’s a very positive action. We’re very pleased with this designation. It’s a large area, and when you protect large marine areas you stand a better chance of success. And the areas that they have selected in the Pacific include some very pristine marine areas. So there is a very good chance of reducing future threats from overfishing pressure on these reefs.

GHAZI: What are the major threats that face the world’s coral reefs and what more needs to be done to protect them?

BURKE: There’s a wide variety of threats affecting coral reefs, some local in nature and some global. Of the local threats, one of the most pervasive is overfishing pressure which can be reduced by this sort of Monument Status and by restrictions on commercial fishing within these reserves. Some other local threats include coastal development and runoff from the land, also runoff from excessive fertilizer application, and in some areas, tourism impacts. The global threats are obviously more difficult to deal with. As we emit more greenhouse gasses we’re getting warmer seas. We’re also getting acidifying seas. So it’s important that there are actions to reduce the rate of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2. But a combination of local action and global action is needed because, as reefs face increasing pressure from these global threats, one thing we can do is reduce the local threats, thereby giving them a better chance to recover after an event like coral bleaching.

Integrated Threat: The Reefs at Risk Threat Index

GHAZI: So how and where is the World Resources Institute contributing to reef conservation efforts, and are we concentrating more on the local than the global solutions?

BURKE: Certainly in the past we’ve focused more on local solutions; now we’re including consideration of these global threats. The original global Reefs at Risk Analysis, which is a map-based indicator of threats to the world’s reefs, focused on local threats and developed a set of indicators to show the relative pressure from human activities across the world’s reefs. The project series began 10 years ago, and last year we began a new project called “Reefs at Risk Revisited” which involves a high resolution update of this global threat analysis which will now include global threats. We are looking specifically at warming seas, and ocean acidification out to the year 2050.

It’s a fairly comprehensive study in that it integrates information on human pressure on coral reefs, the climate related threats, current status and management of reefs and policy recommendations. So it’s a very useful body of information for priority setting. It’s done in a geographic information system so these spatial data sets can be used by both regional and national organizations to do priority setting within their countries.

GHAZI: Who do you expect to use this information?

BURKE: A wide variety of users. One of the main users is coastal planning organizations and conservation organizations that are working on coral reefs. So these tools very much help with priority setting within the region, or within countries. They also help governments and MPA managers looking at different threats within different areas to guide prioritization. We also target tourism agencies. We like to show how much revenue is contributed through coral reef associated tourism, and we think this will help raise awareness within the tourism industry of the importance of maintaining healthy reefs.

GHAZI: The economic valuation of reefs is an innovative area that WRI is getting into, so could you explain a little more?

BURKE: Economic valuation involves putting a dollar value on the goods and services provided by coral reefs. Very often dollar values speak to policymakers and businesses in a way that other conservation arguments can’t. The economic valuation helps to highlight how these groups are currently benefiting from a healthy reef ecosystem and what they stand to lose if a reef continues to decline. So in the case of tourism, we raise awareness about the large values that are often coming into countries and also the taxes that governments receive because of tourists visiting the country. We also look at the contribution of reef-associated fisheries to the economy and the shoreline protection services provided by reefs. And that’s a very important and very high-value service.

GHAZI: So what countries are you doing economic valuation in, and are there any examples of how policymakers have used the information that you’ve given them.

Belize: Shoreline Protection from Coral Reefs

BURKE: Yes. Our country level work on economic valuation of coral reefs began in the eastern Caribbean in Tobago and St. Lucia. We’re just finishing a project in Belize looking at the economic value of coral reefs and mangroves. And we’ve now begun work in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. In Tobago for example, we looked at the country as a whole, but also at the value of coral reefs in the Buccoo Reef Marine Park, which at present is a bit of a paper park - although it’s designated, there isn’t particularly active management enforcement of fishing regulations, and there’s not good control of land-based sources of pollution entering the Buccoo Reef area. So we looked at the economic contribution of tourists to that area and compared it with the cost of interventions to improve water quality and coral reef health in that area. And that was a case where it’s clear that some modifications that would radically improve water quality and thereby help reef health were certainly sensible investments in the long-term interest of the island of Tobago.

GHAZI: So are you optimistic then about the future survival of the world’s coral reefs in the long term?

BURKE: I’m confident that reefs will survive long term, but I think there will be a smaller area of coral reefs a century from now than there is today. One of the things that’s very important as we pull together information on threats and on warming seas and acidifying seas, is to identify the areas with the best prospect of staying healthy in the long run, and really protect those areas. And I think this designation of protected area in the Pacific by President Bush will help to that end.

Reefs at Risk +10

Lauretta Burke — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:12:29 -0400

What is Reefs at Risk and why is it unique?

Reefs at Risk was the first global, quantitative assessment of threats to coral reefs ever conducted. Released in 1998, Reefs at Risk confirmed that coral reefs are seriously threatened in most parts of the world, clearly identified the human activities contributing to this threat, and called for global action.

Why Now?

Given the mass appeal and impact of the Reefs at Risk approach, the time is right to revisit the global analysis and provide the information needed to help organise a global response. Answers are critically needed to questions such as:

Have our collective conservation efforts over the past ten years had an impact?
Has there been any improvement in reef health? Where?
Where are the most critical threats today? What is their origin?
What is the value of healthy coral reef ecosystems?
What economic losses will result if reefs degrade?
How will the threat to coral reefs from pollution, development and climate change impact national economies?

Reefs at Risk used an innovative approach to locate and map coral reefs at highest risk, helping to guide conservation and management efforts. It assessed the threats from coastal development, marine pollution, overexploitation of marine resources and watershed-based pollution.

What has been the impact of Reefs at Risk?

Thanks to its unique overview and distinct communication style, Reefs at Risk clearly established the link between human activities and coral reef condition. As such, it had an instant and global impact in the media, stimulating public awareness and interest, political debate, policy development, and scientific discourse. The publication remains widely quoted in both scientific literature and the mass media.

Reefs at Risk highlighted the links between human activity and coral reef condition, and showed decision-makers, politicians and the public where energy and resources must focus to reduce critical threats. Most importantly, the assessment served to spark an increase in research and conservation investments, and has been used to set regional and local priorities.

At the regional level, it led to more detailed analyses, like Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. Produced in local languages, the maps and analyses provided a more detailed look into threat levels, examined the value of coral reef ecosystem goods and services, and estimated the potential losses from degradation. Reefs at Risk also led to local-level threat analyses in Belize and Sabah, Malaysia, and aided the development of legislation restricting coastal development near coral reefs in Sabah.

Why is Reefs at Risk needed again?

Since the 1998 release of the pivotal Reefs at Risk, the world’s coral reefs have dramatically changed. Despite promising research, conservation and policy efforts, many prompted by Reefs at Risk, we have witnessed an unprecedented decline in these fragile ecosystems.

Wide tracts have been assaulted by a range of destructive forces, from powerful hurricanes and tsunamis, to increased pollution, coral bleaching and disease. In 1998, the world witnessed the most intense coral bleaching event ever recorded, driving widespread coral death in many parts of the globe. Coral bleaching was not factored in to the original Reefs at Risk model, and yet it now represents one of the most pressing threats to coral reefs worldwide. The world is more ready than ever to take action. Climate change and its effects have risen high on national agendas; natural disasters have called attention to the critical link between marine ecosystems and the safety of our shorelines and coastal populations; and countries have begun to link ecosystem health with poverty and are looking at their coral reef assets as a source of wealth and long-term prosperity. However, more information is needed to guide that action. Ten years have passed since the original R@R analysis. Two regional analyses, Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean and South East Asia, have been completed using higher resolution and improved modeling methods. Now we want to take this experience back to the global level. * The scale, quality and detail of many global data sets, such as coral reef locations, has radically improved; * Our understanding of threats to coral reefs and ability to do detailed modeling has improved; * Climate-related threats, such as coral bleaching and ocean acidification must be included. This updated, more comprehensive, high resolution information is needed to raise awareness and guide interventions. #### What will Reefs at Risk +10 do? #### The World Resources Institute (WRI) and International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) are leading a world-class collaboration in a global, map-based analysis of threats to the world’s coral reefs. This update of the influential 1998 analysis will provide a detailed examination of human pressures on coral reefs, implications for reef condition, and projections of associated economic impacts in coastal communities. In partnership with institutions such as the Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), Reef Check, The World Fish Center, The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), and others, ICRAN and WRI seek to raise public awareness to the location and severity of threats to coral reefs, and catalyze targeted, responsible, and informed decisions that protect coral reefs and the broad range of benefits they provide to people. Reefs at Risk +10 will show decision-makers, politicians and the public where to focus energy and resources to address critical threats, and will inform bilateral, regional and international bodies as they seek ways to help coordinate and finance these efforts. It will support conservation priority setting, constructive public and private alliances, and better private and public policy, as well as highlighting the value of investment in effective coastal management. #### Strategy #### The analysis will be crucial for galvanizing support for coral reef issues and influencing the coral reef management and conservation agenda at the local, national, regional and global levels within government, donors, UN agencies and NGOs. To achieve our goal and objectives, we have organized the project around three complementary strategies:

Strategic Engagement of Constituency Networks, Key Organizations and Individuals.Targeted, High-quality Information and Analysis.
The project relies on a broad partnership to assure the accuracy of results and high quality of products, as well as to design the products to meet the needs of end users.
Targeted, High-Quality Information and Analysis.
Since the last global analysis, significant improvements have been made in the quantity, quality and level of detail of the datasets that will comprise the Reefs at Risk analysis. The project’s core partnership will focus on the completion of six main components: Collection, consolidation and integration of data; Spatial threat analysis; Climate and coral bleaching vulnerability analysis; Comparative threat analysis, 1998 – 2008; Economic valuation of coral reefs and the potential losses resulting from degradation; and a Social vulnerability analysis.
Comprehensive, Innovative Communications.
The Reefs at Risk+10 communication strategy is designed to move the reef threats discussion into the mainstream by using existing mechanisms, networks, and partnerships, and through global events and programmes of the International Year of the Reef 2008. The strategy will also take advantage of new information technologies and is designed to effectively reach more general, non-technical audiences. The approach will raise awareness through wide dissemination of data sets, model results, summary reports, economic valuations, and educational posters. It will provide readily accessible information from the Reefs at Risk analysis for input into the relevant international, regional and national policy making and environmental convention fora, and to inform policy makers.

#### Who should I contact for more information? #### The Reefs at Risk +10 project has just begun. ICRAN and WRI are building the partnership needed to execute this vital, results-focused endeavor. We invite your feedback, comments and participation. For further information on Reefs at Risk +10, our goals, strategy and partnership, and how you can become a part of this innovative and exciting undertaking, please contact: Lauretta Burke Senior Associate, WRI +1 (202) 729-7774 Kristian Teleki Director, ICRAN +44 (0)122 327 7314

Choking Coastal Waters

Mindy Selman — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:39:58 -0500

My team at WRI, together with Dr. Bob Diaz at the Virginia Marine Institute, has identified and mapped 415 eutrophic and hypoxic coastal systems worldwide through an extensive literature review. Of these, 169 are documented hypoxic areas, 233 are areas of concern and 13 are systems in recovery.

World Hypoxic and Eutrophic Coastal Areas

Our findings highlight the dramatic growth of areas receiving the endflows of nitrogen and phosphorus created by agriculture, increasing industry, fossil fuel combustion, and population growth. More than 1,000 scientists estimated, in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, that, as a result of human activities over the past 50 years, the flux of nitrogen has doubled over natural values while the flux of phosphorus has tripled.

The effects of nutrient pollution in coastal waters may include excessive growth of algae, including harmful algae species that can cause fish kills and shellfish poisoning in humans; reduced species diversity and dominance of gelatinous organisms such as jellyfish; damage to coral reefs; and formation of oxygen-depleted “dead zones.”

The map shows three categories:

Documented hypoxic areas - Areas with scientific evidence that hypoxia was caused, at least in part, by an overabundance of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Areas of concern - Systems that exhibit effects of eutrophication, including elevated nitrogen and phosphorus levels, elevated chlorophyll a levels, harmful algal blooms, changes in the benthic community, damage to coral reefs, and fish kills. These systems are impaired by nutrients and are possibly at risk of developing hypoxia. Some of the systems may already be experiencing hypoxia, but lack conclusive scientific evidence of the condition.
Systems in recovery - Areas that once exhibited low dissolved oxygen levels and hypoxia, but are now improving. For example, the Black Sea recovery is largely due to the economic collapse of Eastern Europe in the 1990s, which greatly reduced fertilizer use. Others, like Boston Harbor in the United States and the Mersey Estuary in the United Kingdom also have improved water quality resulting from better industrial and wastewater controls.

The actual extent and prevalence of eutrophication is only beginning to be studied. Some countries, such as the United States and European Union, have undertaken comprehensive coastal surveys in the past five years, and have the most comprehensive coastal data on eutrophication. However, data do not exist or are not publicly available for areas that may be suffering from the effects of eutrophication.

Given the state of global data, the actual number of eutrophic and hypoxic areas around the world is likely to be greater than the 415 listed here. The most under-represented region is Asia. Asia has relatively few documented eutrophic and hypoxic areas despite large increases in intensive farming methods, industrial development, and population growth over the past 20 years. Africa, South America, and the Caribbean also have few reliable sources of coastal water quality data.

It is critical that we begin to close the gaps in our knowledge about where eutrophication is occurring globally.

As part of WRI’s work on this topic, we will release a policy note in March 2008 entitled Eutrophication and Hypoxia in Coastal Areas: A Global Assessment of the State of Knowledge.