Reefs at Risk in the Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean Caribbean Lauretta Burke / Jon Maidens World Resources Institute
Jan 02, 2016
Reefs at Risk in the CaribbeanReefs at Risk in the Caribbean
Lauretta Burke / Jon MaidensWorld Resources Institute
Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview
Background on Reefs at (Background on Reefs at (R@RR@R) project series) project series
Partnership for Partnership for R@RR@R Caribbean Caribbean
Project concept and method Project concept and method
Key findings of analysis Key findings of analysis
Future events and products Future events and products
The Information NeedThe Information Need
Few Coral Reefs Have Been MonitoredFew Coral Reefs Have Been Monitored
Inadequate Information on Changes in Coral Inadequate Information on Changes in Coral ReefsReefs
Much Data Is UnavailableMuch Data Is Unavailable
Integrated Monitoring Integrated Monitoring Programs Are NeededPrograms Are Needed
Global Analysis released in 1998 byWorld Resources Institute,in collaboration with ICLARM, WCMC and UNEP
The The Reefs at RiskReefs at Risk Index Index
LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh
Global Global Reefs at Risk Reefs at Risk successful at raising successful at raising awareness.awareness.
Relatively coarse-scale Relatively coarse-scale (4km.)(4km.)
Global Global Reefs at Risk Reefs at Risk successful at raising successful at raising awareness.awareness.
Relatively coarse-scale Relatively coarse-scale (4km.)(4km.)
Regional Reefs at RiskRegional Reefs at Risk series series Higher resolution analysis – Higher resolution analysis –
valuable for managementvaluable for management More integration and More integration and
improvement of dataimprovement of data
Regional Reefs at RiskRegional Reefs at Risk series series Higher resolution analysis – Higher resolution analysis –
valuable for managementvaluable for management More integration and More integration and
improvement of dataimprovement of data
Reefs at Risk in the CaribbeanReefs at Risk in the Caribbean
Collaboration of Collaboration of over twenty over twenty international and international and regional partnersregional partners
Uses Geographical Uses Geographical Information System Information System (GIS) to evaluate (GIS) to evaluate threat to coral threat to coral reefsreefs
Caribbean Project CollaboratorsCaribbean Project Collaborators
Research Institutions Research Institutions and Universitiesand Universities
AGRRAAGRRA CARICOMPCARICOMP Florida International Florida International
University University GCFIGCFI NCORENCORE University of MiamiUniversity of Miami University of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida University of the West University of the West
Indies (UWI)Indies (UWI)
NGOs NGOs
CCACCA CORALINACORALINA Environmental DefenseEnvironmental Defense FoProBiMFoProBiM IRFIRF TNCTNC REEFREEF Reef CheckReef Check WWFWWF
Caribbean Project CollaboratorsCaribbean Project Collaborators
Government Agencies and Government Agencies and International International OrganizationsOrganizations
GCRMNGCRMN ICRANICRAN UNEP-CEPUNEP-CEP UNEP-WCMCUNEP-WCMC US NASAUS NASA US NOAAUS NOAA World Bank / GEF MBRS World Bank / GEF MBRS
ProjectProject The World Fish Center The World Fish Center
Financial SupportFinancial Support
The Munson FoundationThe Munson Foundation The Henry FoundationThe Henry Foundation Netherlands Ministry of Netherlands Ministry of
Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs Swedish International Swedish International
Development Cooperation Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)Agency (SIDA)
United Nations FoundationUnited Nations Foundation UNEP-CEPUNEP-CEP USAIDUSAID
Goals of Reefs at Risk Goals of Reefs at Risk
Raise awareness about threats to coral reefsRaise awareness about threats to coral reefs
Establish linkages between human activity and Establish linkages between human activity and coral conditioncoral condition
Develop a standardized indicator of threat to Develop a standardized indicator of threat to coral reefs from human activitiescoral reefs from human activities
Promote sharing and improvement of Promote sharing and improvement of information through data integration and information through data integration and distributiondistribution
Main Components of Reefs at Risk Main Components of Reefs at Risk project:project:
Collection and integration of background Collection and integration of background
data sets on coral reefs and factors data sets on coral reefs and factors
contributing to reef degradation contributing to reef degradation
Modeling of threats to coral reefsModeling of threats to coral reefs
Evaluate economic losses likely to result Evaluate economic losses likely to result from coral reef degradationfrom coral reef degradation
Threats Evaluated in Caribbean:Threats Evaluated in Caribbean:
Coastal DevelopmentCoastal Development
Watershed-based sources of Watershed-based sources of sediment and pollutionsediment and pollution
Marine-based threatMarine-based threat
OverfishingOverfishing
Also Examined:Also Examined:
Coral Bleaching Coral Bleaching
Coral Disease Coral Disease
Dredging, land filling Dredging, land filling and reclamationand reclamation
Mining of sand and Mining of sand and coralcoral
Runoff from Runoff from constructionconstruction
Sewage dischargeSewage discharge
Impacts from Impacts from tourismtourism
Threat:Threat: Coastal Development Coastal Development
Replace photo
Finding: COASTAL DEVOPMENTthreatens an estimated one-third of Caribbean coral reefs.
Low
Medium
High
Estimated threat
Threat:Threat: Sediment and Pollution Sediment and Pollution from Inland Sourcesfrom Inland Sources
Land clearingLand clearing
Poor agricultural Poor agricultural practicespractices
Fertilizer and Fertilizer and pesticide runoff pesticide runoff
Watersheds are critical units Watersheds are critical units for analysis and managementfor analysis and management
Puerto Rico
Elevation
Watersheds are critical units Watersheds are critical units for analysis and managementfor analysis and management
Puerto Rico
Watersheds & Rivers
Watersheds are critical units Watersheds are critical units for analysis and managementfor analysis and management
Puerto Rico
Pour points
Watershed-based analysisWatershed-based analysis
Finding: SEDIMENT AND POLLUTION FROM INLAND SOURCES threaten more than one-third of Caribbean coral reefs.
Low
Medium
High
Estimated threat
Threat:Threat: Marine-based Pollution and Marine-based Pollution and DamageDamage
Discharge of Discharge of ballast waterballast water
Oil spills and leaksOil spills and leaks
Anchor damage Anchor damage and groundings and groundings
Finding: MARINE-BASED THREATS to coral reefs are widespread across the Caribbean.
Low
Medium
High
Estimated threat
Threat:Threat: Overfishing Overfishing
Widespread fishing Widespread fishing exceeding exceeding sustainable levelssustainable levels
Alters ecological Alters ecological balance on coral balance on coral reefreef
Overharvest of Overharvest of many commercially many commercially valuable speciesvaluable species
Finding: OVERFISHING threatens over 60 percent of Caribbean coral reefs.
Low
Medium
High
Estimated threat
Regional SummaryRegional Summary
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Coastaldevelopment
Sedimentation Marine-basedpollution
Overfishing Integratedthreat
Low Medium High Very High
Finding: INTEGRATED THREAT - nearly two-thirds of Caribbean coral reefs are threatened by human activities.
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Estimated threat
How much reef are we talking How much reef are we talking about here?about here?
How much reef are we talking How much reef are we talking about here?about here?
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000
Bermuda
Florida
Gulf of Mexico
Western Caribbean
Southw estern Caribbean
Southern Caribbean
Eastern Caribbean
Greater Antilles
Bahamian
Reef area (sq km)
Finding:Finding: Degree of human pressure on Degree of human pressure on coral reefs varies considerably across coral reefs varies considerably across
the region.the region.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Bahamian GreaterAntilles
EasternCaribbean
SouthernCaribbean
Southw esternCaribbean
Western Caribbean
Gulf of Mexico Florida
Low Medium High Very High
Sub-Regional Summary – Sub-Regional Summary – Continental SW CaribbeanContinental SW Caribbean
Low Medium High Very High
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Coastaldevelopment
Sedimentation Marine-basedpollution
Overf ishing Integratedthreat
Reefs at Risk in the Continental Southwestern Caribbean
Low Medium High Very High
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Coastaldevelopment
Sedimentation Marine-basedpollution
Overf ishing Integratedthreat
Reefs at Risk in Puerto Rico
Country Summary – Country Summary – Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Finding:Finding: Diseases and rising sea temperatures threaten to damage coral
reefs across the Caribbean region.
Management effectiveness of 285 Caribbean MPAs
6% of MPAs rated as good
13% of MPAs rated as partially effective
48% of MPAs rated as inadequate
33% of MPAs under an unknown level of management
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.
Protection of the 26,000 sq km of coral reefs in the region
80% of reefs outside of MPAs
1% of reefs in MPAs rated as good
3% of reefs in MPAs rated as partially effective
9% of reefs in MPAs rated as ineffective
7% of reefs in MPAs under an unknown level of management
Ineffective management of protected areas further threatens Caribbean coral reefs.
Finding: If current trends in coral reef degradation continue, coastal communities and national economies are poised to sustain substantial economic losses.
Valuation: Coral reef-associated fisheries
Net annual revenues of over $300 million in 2000.
Fisheries could decline by 30-45% by 2015
Estimated loss of net revenues between US$95 million to US$140 million per year by 2015.
Valuation: Dive Tourism Net annual revenues of
over $2 billion in 2000.
Coral degradation could results in a 2-5% reduction in revenues by 2015
Estimated loss of net revenues between US$100 million to US$300 million per year by 2015.
Valuation: Shoreline Protection
Over 20% of Caribbean coastline protected by coral reefs.
Estimated value of this service is between $700 million and $2.2 billion.
Reef degradation could result in losses estimated between US$140 million to US$420 million per year by 2050.
Policy RecommendationsPolicy Recommendations
Create the Will for ChangeCreate the Will for Change
Build Capacity for ChangeBuild Capacity for Change
Improve ManagementImprove Management
International ActionInternational Action
Create the Will for ChangeCreate the Will for Change
Raise awarenessRaise awareness
Consider long-term economic Consider long-term economic
value in decision-makingvalue in decision-making
Build Capacity for ChangeBuild Capacity for Change
TrainingTraining
Exchange Experience Exchange Experience
Facilitate Participation in Decision-Facilitate Participation in Decision-
makingmaking
Integrate Socioeconomic and Integrate Socioeconomic and
Environmental MonitoringEnvironmental Monitoring
Improve ManagementImprove Management
Sustainable FisheriesSustainable Fisheries
Holistic \ Integrated ManagementHolistic \ Integrated Management
Improve MPA managementImprove MPA management
Develop Tourism Sustainably Develop Tourism Sustainably
Manage WastesManage Wastes
International ActionInternational Action
International AgreementsInternational Agreements
International cooperation and International cooperation and
exchangeexchange
Products / InformationProducts / Information
Integrated Data Sets for Region - Integrated Data Sets for Region - on CDon CD
Coral reef mapsCoral reef maps
Coral reef status parameters Coral reef status parameters
Physical landscape data Physical landscape data
InfrastructureInfrastructure
Socioeconomic variablesSocioeconomic variables
Estimated threat to coral reefsEstimated threat to coral reefs
ProductsProducts English and Spanish reportsEnglish and Spanish reports Data CDData CD Web SiteWeb Site Interactive online GISInteractive online GIS Country Profiles on the WebCountry Profiles on the Web
Reefs at Risk in the CaribbeanReefs at Risk in the Caribbean
Thank you!Thank you!
http://reefsatrisk.wri.orghttp://reefsatrisk.wri.org
World Resources InstituteWorld Resources Institute