Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs in Southern Tropical America
• Parque Nacional Isla Galeta - National Park since 1999: STRI monitoring since 1970;
• Parque Nacional Marina Isla Bastimentos (Bocas del Toro) - Marine National Park
since 1988: CARICOMP monitoring since 1999. Pacific:
• Refugio de Vida Silvestre Isla Iguana - Wildlife Refuge since 1981: no monitoring;
• Refugio de Vida Silvestre Isla Taboga - Wildlife Refuge since 1984: no monitoring;
• Parque Nacional Coiba - National Park since 1991: no monitoring;
• Parque Nacional Cerro Hoya - National Park since 1984: no monitoring;
• Parque Nacional Golfo de Chiriquí - National Park since 1994: no monitoring;
Venezuela
The Instituto Nacional de Parques (INPARQUES) manages the national parks in Venezuela, of
which Los Roques is the only island and marine area. There are other oceanic islands such
as La Blanquilla, La Orchila and Refugio de Fauna Isla de Aves, which are military bases with
restricted access, but not managed by INPARQUES.
• Parque Nacional Mochima - National Park: no monitoring;
• Parque Nacional Morrocoy - National Park: CARICOMP monitoring since 1992;
• Parque Nacional San Esteban - National Park: no monitoring;
• Parque Nacional Archipiélago de Los Roques - National Park: no monitoring.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION
Despite the great importance of coral reefs in the region and the clear evidence of
accelerated degradation, there are few specific government policies and laws to promote
the study (including monitoring), sustainable use and conservation of coral reef systems in this
region. Most protection takes place through the inclusion of reef areas within natural parks and
other reserves; however, most of these are ‘paper parks’ and effective protection is limited to
a few example areas. Only Colombia and Panamá have developed specific national
regulations that prohibit the extraction, exploitation and trade of hard corals (Resolution 1002
of 1969 from INDERENA in Colombia and Res. J.D.-033 of 1993 from IRENARE in Panamá) and
reef fishes for the aquarium trade (Executive Decree 29 of 1994 in Panamá). In Brazil, there is
also a specific local law (State Constitution, Article 215, Chapter VIII) which declares coral
reef areas for permanent protection along the coast of the state of Bahia.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) has been ratified by Colombia (Law 17, 1981), Costa Rica, Panamá (Law 14, 1977),
and Venezuela. Other international treaties pertinent to the conservation of coastal
resources have been ratified in the region, such us the Convention for the Protection of the
Marine Environment in the Southeastern Pacific Coastal Zone (Colombia: Law 45, 1985), the
Convention for Protection and Management of the Marine Environment in the Wider
Caribbean Region (Colombia: Law 56, 1987; Costa Rica), the Convention on Global Climate
Change (Colombia: Law 64, 1994; Costa Rica), and the Convention on Biological Diversity
(Colombia: Law 165, 1994; Costa Rica and Venezuela).
Recent efforts in several countries have been made to organise national systems and
legislation for the management and conservation of the environment and biodiversity.
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