Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean

1. Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean Lauretta Burke / Jon Maidens World Resources Institute

3. Presentation Overview • Background on Reefs at (R@R) project series • Partnership for R@R Caribbean • Project concept and method • Key findings of analysis • Future events and products

4. The Information Need Few Coral Reefs Have Been Monitored Inadequate Information on Changes in Coral Reefs Much Data Is Unavailable Integrated Monitoring Programs Are Needed

5. Global Analysis released in 1998 by World Resources Institute, in collaboration with ICLARM, WCMC and UNEP

6. The Reefs at Risk Index Low High Medium

7. Global Reefs at Risk successful at raising awareness. • Relatively coarse-scale (4km.) Regional Reefs at Risk series • Higher resolution analysis – valuable for management • More integration and improvement of data

8. Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean • Collaboration of over twenty international and regional partners • Uses Geographical Information System (GIS) to evaluate threat to coral reefs

9. Research Institutions and Universities AGRRA CARICOMP Florida International University GCFI NCORE University of Miami University of South Florida University of the West Indies (UWI) NGOs CCA CORALINA Environmental Defense FoProBiM IRF TNC REEF Reef Check WWF Caribbean Project Collaborators

10. Government Agencies and International Organizations GCRMN ICRAN UNEP-CEP UNEP-WCMC US NASA US NOAA World Bank / GEF MBRS Project The World Fish Center Financial Support The Munson Foundation The Henry Foundation Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) United Nations Foundation UNEP-CEP USAID Caribbean Project Collaborators

11. Goals of Reefs at Risk • Raise awareness about threats to coral reefs • Establish linkages between human activity and coral condition • Develop a standardized indicator of threat to coral reefs from human activities • Promote sharing and improvement of information through data integration and distribution

12. Main Components of Reefs at Risk project: • Collection and integration of background data sets on coral reefs and factors contributing to reef degradation • Modeling of threats to coral reefs • Evaluate economic losses likely to result from coral reef degradation

13. Threats Evaluated in Caribbean: • Coastal Development • Watershed-based sources of sediment and pollution • Marine-based threat • Overfishing

14. Also Examined: • Coral Bleaching • Coral Disease

15. Threat: Coastal Development • Dredging, land filling and reclamation • Mining of sand and coral • Runoff from construction • Sewage discharge • Impacts from tourism Replace photo

16. Low Medium High Finding: COASTAL DEVOPMENTthreatens an estimated one-third of Caribbean coral reefs. Estimated threat

17. Threat: Sediment and Pollution from Inland Sources • Land clearing • Poor agricultural practices • Fertilizer and pesticide runoff

18. Watersheds are critical units for analysis and management Elevation Puerto Rico

19. Watersheds are critical units for analysis and management Watersheds & Rivers Puerto Rico

20. Watersheds are critical units for analysis and management Pour points Puerto Rico

21. Watershed-based analysis

22. Low Medium High Finding: SEDIMENT AND POLLUTION FROM INLAND SOURCES threaten more than one-third of Caribbean coral reefs. Estimated threat

23. Threat: Marine-based Pollution and Damage • Discharge of ballast water • Oil spills and leaks • Anchor damage and groundings

24. Low Medium High Finding: MARINE-BASED THREATS to coral reefs are widespread across the Caribbean. Estimated threat

25. Threat: Overfishing • Widespread fishing exceeding sustainable levels • Alters ecological balance on coral reef • Overharvest of many commercially valuable species

26. Low Medium High Finding: OVERFISHING threatens over 60 percent of Caribbean coral reefs. Estimated threat

27. Regional Summary Low Medium High Very High

28. Finding: INTEGRATED THREAT - nearly two-thirds of Caribbean coral reefs are threatened by human activities. Estimated threat Low Medium High Very High

29. How much reef are we talking about here?

30. How much reef are we talking about here?

31. Finding: Degree of human pressure on coral reefs varies considerably across the region. Low Medium High Very High

32. Sub-Regional Summary – Continental SW Caribbean Reefs at Risk in the Continental Southwestern Caribbean Low Medium High Very High

33. Country Summary – Puerto Rico Reefs at Risk in Puerto Rico Low Medium High Very High

34. Finding:Diseases and rising sea temperatures threaten to damage coral reefs across the Caribbean region.

35. Management effectiveness of 285 Caribbean MPAs 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. 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

36. Protection of the 26,000 sq km of coral reefs in the region Ineffective management of protected areas further threatens Caribbean coral reefs. 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

37. Finding: If current trends in coral reef degradation continue, coastal communities and national economies are poised to sustain substantial economic losses.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. Policy Recommendations • Create the Will for Change • Build Capacity for Change • Improve Management • International Action

42. Create the Will for Change • Raise awareness • Consider long-term economic value in decision-making

43. Build Capacity for Change • Training • Exchange Experience • Facilitate Participation in Decision-making • Integrate Socioeconomic and Environmental Monitoring

44. Improve Management • Sustainable Fisheries • Holistic \ Integrated Management • Improve MPA management • Develop Tourism Sustainably • Manage Wastes

45. International Action • International Agreements • International cooperation and exchange

46. Products / Information

47. Integrated Data Sets for Region - on CD • Coral reef maps • Coral reef status parameters • Physical landscape data • Infrastructure • Socioeconomic variables • Estimated threat to coral reefs

48. Products • English and Spanish reports • Data CD • Web Site • Interactive online GIS • Country Profiles on the Web

49. Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean Thank you! http://reefsatrisk.wri.org World Resources Institute