Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 Development of Coastal Areas Near Coral Reefs Construction of the airport on Ishigaki had raised public awareness about the need for coral reef conservation and the impacts of development. However, large-scale land reclamation has been performed on the coral reefs near Naha airport (Okinawa) and port and harbour development throughout the islands with considerable damage to coral reefs. Ironically land reclamation is planned on coral reefs to attract more tourists e.g. on Yoron Island (Kagoshima prefecture) in the 1990s. A particular centre of interest is construction of a military airport by the US Marine Corps on Henoko, Okinawa, near an area inhabited by endangered dugongs. Over-use of Coral Reefs There are over 4 million tourists to the Ryukyu Islands every year and the marine leisure industry is a major component of the local economy. However, insufficient rules and management do not ensure that coral reefs conservation is sustained, even though it is essential to the survival of the industry. Tourists on Miyako and Ishigaki Islands continue to trample over live corals on the reef flat and there is no education or regulation to prevent this damage. The increasing use of jet skies and underwater walking with helmets is creating new threats. Scuba diving is particularly popular and high concentrations of divers at key sites result in considerable damage to the corals. Diving instructors are aware of the problems and educating tourism-oriented divers about the importance of coral reef conservation. For example, diving locations are rotated to prevent overuse of some diving spots. Nevertheless, there remains further need for regulation of leisure activities in the Ryukyu Islands, and increased coordination between the tourism and fishery stakeholders. Some cooperation in Yomitan-Son (Okinawa) and other areas has started between leisure service providers and fishers to increase local tourism while preserving the reefs. Collection of living resources such as reef fish, shells, octopus, cuttlefish, crabs and algae is important as livelihoods for people from the Ryukyu Islands; yet, these resources have decreased in quantity and quality through over-fishing and environmental degradation. The Okinawa Prefecture Government operates some fishery projects for sustainable fishery such as release of juveniles, establishing artificial reefs and fisheries management. These stories are also applicable for China and Taiwan. Conservation Efforts Although various measures have been introduced to conserve the coral reefs, these are insufficient, especially the lack of coordinated conservation of adjacent land and the sea areas. Laws and plans for land use stipulate that the reefs be conserved, but these are only general recommendations. Similarly, conservation of the natural environment is virtually ignored outside of the protected areas, and development always has priority over conservation. To improve conservation of coral reefs, it is essential to introduce the concept of sustainable use of nature, and apply more regulations and zoning of the land. This will require better environmental education for the whole community, especially local residents. The Ryukyu Islands are densely populated and reefs are heavily exploited, however, there were once traditional rules about sustainable use of the resources. These rules should be reintroduced into the culture in order to conserve the coral reefs of the Ryukyu Islands. 136
Status of Coral Reefs of East and North Asia CURRENT AND POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS The Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) carried out extensive surveys of the 1998 bleaching in Akajima Island and the main island of Okinawa, and also collected meteorological and oceanographic data which were closely correlated with the bleaching. A simulation model was developed to estimate how variations in meteorological and oceanographic conditions affect the recovery rate of bleached coral reefs. Remote sensing from aircraft was also used to assess the impact of the 1998 bleaching, after attempts using satellite images were ineffective. The meteorological parameters of air temperature, cloud cover, solar irradiation, wind, rainfall, water temperatures, Kuroshio current strength, salinity, tidal level etc. were measured seeking correlations with the bleaching data. The analysis showed that variations in water temperatures in the Equatorial areas were reflected in Okinawa some months later and large areas with high surface water temperature (29 o C or higher) occurred in the summer season of 1998. The conclusion was that global oceanographic variations were the driving forces of the bleaching of coral reefs, but there was no clear link that meteorological conditions could initiate the bleaching, and further studies were recommended. The other conclusion was that recovery rates will be different among species, and strongly dependent on water temperatures and turbidity. MAPS, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY China Research and monitoring capacity is generally low and coral reefs have had little previous prominence in policy making. In late 2000, the first Reef Check-GCRMN training will be held in Hainan, supported by UNEP. Participants from three coastal provinces with coral reefs: Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi Autonomous Region, will work on training materials translated into Chinese by the Chinese State Oceanic Administration. Earlier in 2000, Reef Check in Hong Kong assembled 16 teams including government, academia, and the private sector to survey reefs throughout Hong Kong; probably the most concentrated volunteer monitoring programme in the world. Japan The establishment of Natural Parks under the Natural Parks Law is an effective means for environmental conservation in Japan. There are 6 Natural Parks with coral reefs in the Amami, Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands, with a land area of 45,854ha, approximately 11% of total area of the coral reef islands. There are also 23 Marine Park Zones in National and Quasi-National Parks in these coral reef islands (total areas 1,615ha). The total area of these Marine Park Zones is approximately 1.7% of the coral reef area of Japan. • Ogasawara National Park, managed by the Environment Agency of Japan (EAJ). There are 7 Marine Park Zones in Chichi and Haha Islands with open ocean characteristics of high transparency, high species richness of fishes and abundant Tridacna maxima (giant clams). These reefs are small and appear to grow slowly, with some interesting limestone structures. • Iriomote National Park, managed by EAJ, including 3 Marine Park Zones in Sekisei Lagoon, and 1 in the moat around a coral reef island. The moat area has widely 137
Page 1 and 2:
Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
Page 3 and 4:
FOREWORD Over the past few years, I
Page 5 and 6:
CONTENTS COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERR
Page 7 and 8:
COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
Page 9:
Countries, States and Territories T
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 19 and 20:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON T
Page 21 and 22:
Executive Summary CORAL BLEACHING I
Page 23 and 24:
Executive Summary South Asia Most r
Page 25 and 26:
Executive Summary parts of Fiji and
Page 27 and 28:
Executive Summary management and mo
Page 29 and 30:
Executive Summary tourism developme
Page 31:
Executive Summary problem is loomin
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99: Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
Page 107 and 108: 6. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTH A
Page 109 and 110: Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
Page 127: Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
Page 143 and 144: 8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF EAST AN
Page 145 and 146: Status of Coral Reefs of East and N
Page 147: Status of Coral Reefs of East and N
Page 151 and 152: Status of Coral Reefs of East and N
Page 153 and 154: 9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
Page 155 and 156: Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
Page 171 and 172: 10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
Page 173 and 174: Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
Page 193 and 194: 11. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL
Page 195 and 196: Status of Southeast and Central Pac
Page 197 and 198: Status of Southeast and Central Pac
Page 199 and 200:
Status of Southeast and Central Pac
Page 201 and 202:
Page 203 and 204:
Page 205 and 206:
Page 207 and 208:
Page 209 and 210:
Page 211 and 212:
12. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AMERIC
Page 213 and 214:
Status of Coral Reefs of American S
Page 215 and 216:
Page 217 and 218:
Page 219 and 220:
Page 221 and 222:
Page 223 and 224:
Page 225 and 226:
Page 227 and 228:
Page 229:
Page 232 and 233:
Page 234 and 235:
Page 236 and 237:
Page 238 and 239:
Page 240 and 241:
Page 242 and 243:
Page 244 and 245:
Page 246 and 247:
Page 248 and 249:
Page 250 and 251:
Page 252 and 253:
Page 254 and 255:
Page 256 and 257:
Page 258 and 259:
Page 260 and 261:
Page 262 and 263:
Page 264 and 265:
Page 266 and 267:
Page 268 and 269:
Page 270 and 271:
Page 273 and 274:
15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
Page 275 and 276:
Status of Coral Reefs in the Northe
Page 277 and 278:
Page 279 and 280:
Page 281 and 282:
Page 283 and 284:
Page 285 and 286:
Page 287 and 288:
Page 289 and 290:
Page 291 and 292:
Page 293 and 294:
Page 295 and 296:
Page 297:
Page 300 and 301:
Page 302 and 303:
Page 304 and 305:
Page 306 and 307:
Page 308 and 309:
Page 310 and 311:
Page 312 and 313:
Page 314 and 315:
Page 316 and 317:
Page 318 and 319:
Page 320 and 321:
Page 322 and 323:
Page 324 and 325:
Page 327 and 328:
17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
Page 329 and 330:
Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
Page 331 and 332:
Page 333 and 334:
Page 335 and 336:
Page 337 and 338:
Page 339 and 340:
Page 341 and 342:
Page 343 and 344:
18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
Page 345 and 346:
Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
Page 347 and 348:
Page 349 and 350:
Page 351 and 352:
Page 353 and 354:
Page 355 and 356:
Page 357 and 358:
Page 359 and 360:
Page 361 and 362:
19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
Page 363 and 364:
Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
Page 365 and 366:
Page 367 and 368:
Page 369:
Page 372 and 373:
Page 375:
LIST OF ACRONYMS AGRRA AIMS ASEAN B
show all

Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?