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Rolph Payet, 2003

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

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Rolph Payet, 2003

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  1. Small Island States Why are Coral Reefs Important to us? Rolph Payet, 2003

  2. 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 There is still a number of unanswered questions and theories, however it is clear that: many islands would not exist without corals, and reefs would not be as wide spread without islands.

  3. Global Importance • Diversity of coral reefs are much higher around islands than along continental coasts • Islands are important stepping stones in maintaining global populations and diversity of reefs • 40 % of the worlds coral reefs are found around islands • 60,000 km2, or 21% of global total of coral reefs areas lie within SIDS

  4. Living Coral = Island Life

  5. Dead Coral = Island Poverty • Major Threats to Coral Reefs • Direct Human – Pollution, Sedimentation, Destructive Fishing, Diseases, Reclamation • Indirect Human – Climate Change, Bleaching, Invasive Species • Natural – UV, Long-term Cycles in the earth’s system

  6. Island State Reef Mortality Reef Mortality Reefs at Risk Indicator Regional Summary Pre - 1998 Post - 1998 (bleaching event) 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% Maur itius - 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; Brya nt et al. 1998 ; Linden et al. (CORDIO) 2002) ; Goreau et al., 2000 . Status of Reefs in SIDS

  7. Why a resolution ? • Recognise the importance of coral reefs to islands • Continued increase in direct threats through lack of political will, capacity and monitoring • Continued increase in indirect threats through lack of global consensus to address the issue of climate change • Sustainable development is directly hampered by degradation of coral reefs

  8. Resolution Overview • Call upon SIDS to endorse and implement ICRI’s Call to Action • Put in place measures to address coral reef degradation • Improve knowledge on the state of reefs • Recognise the interconnectedness of coral reef populations and designing representative protected areas networks • Develop national capacities • Call upon the international community to support tangible coral reef initiatives in Small Island States

  9. Next Steps • Adoption by ICRI of the Small Island States Resolution; • Presentation of the Adopted Resolution at the 2nd Regional AIMS group meeting in early January in Seychelles; • Insertion of the resolution in the BPOA+10 Work programme/theme at the Final Inter-Regional Meeting for the SIDS; • Discussion and presentation of the resolution to CBD COP in Malaysia (March ?); • Adoption of the Resolution at the SIDS meeting in Mauritius, mid-2004

  10. Coral Reef at the Centre of Development in Seychelles Credits: Roger Bour

  11. Coral Reef set aside as World Heritage in Seychelles Credits: Roger Bour

  12. Thank you

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