#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
some of its 900 members in nearly 140 countries that are active in coral reef monitoring
and conservation. The IUCN provides critical linkages to the GCRMN to broaden its
influence and encourage and assist communities around the world in the conservation of
coral reefs. The IUCN is currently strengthening its marine program, of which coral reefs
and sponsorship of the GCRMN are major components. Other critical IUCN activities are
developing marine protected areas in the tropics, and illustrating the links between global
climate change and coral reefs, in collaboration with the Convention on Biological
Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. IUCN is also
strengthening is collaboration with the Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean
(CORDIO) program, and will soon be launching a number of joint activities.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development highlighted the importance of coastal
resources, and coral reefs in particular, to the economic development of coastal nations
and small island developing states in its Plan of Implementation (September 2002). It
particularly noted the dependence of millions of people on reef resources for food, shelter,
employment and foreign exchange. Targets were set by countries and the international
community for the restoration of degraded fish stocks and the protection of marine
biodiversity to ensure the continued productivity of essential environmental goods and
services. The World Bank is committed to supporting these efforts through its
membership of ICRI and via a growing portfolio of projects to support coral reef
conservation and management. The GCRMN, through monitoring the status of coral reefs
around the world and building capacity in countries, performs a vital task in helping
nations assess their progress in conserving coral reefs and understanding the threats from
climate change and unsustainable development. The World Bank aims to expand its
ongoing partnership with the GCRMN to help guide conservation efforts to where they are
most needed and to respond to the challenges of the WSSD 2002.
Coral reefs ecosystems are rich in biodiversity and their conservation and sustainable use
are essential to the livelihood of many coastal populations in developing countries.
Following the coral-bleaching events of 1998, the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity decided to fully integrate coral reefs into its program
of work on marine and coastal biodiversity and highlighted information-gathering as one
of the priority areas for action on coral bleaching. Likewise, a comprehensive analysis of
the status and trends of global coral reef ecosystems is one of the elements indicated by
the Convention’s Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice for
inclusion in the work plans on coral bleaching and on physical degradation and
destruction of coral reefs. The new edition of the Status of Coral Reefs of the World is an
important contribution to the implementation of the Convention’s programme of work on
marine and coastal biological diversity and provides a valuable tool for decision-makers
and others concerned about the continuing health of these key ecosystems.
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