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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
• Other foundations in the USA, Japan, France and Australia are taking a greater
interest in coral reefs and assisting ICRAN and the more active NGOs (WWF,
The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, CORAL, World Resources
Institute, Marine Aquarium Council, Reef Check) establish large MPAs or link
existing MPAs in order to arrest coral reef degradation; and
• At the WSSD, USAID and the UN Foundation announced a grant of US$3
million to the ICRAN partnership to tackle coral reef problems along the
Caribbean coast of Mesoamerica.
PARTNERSHIPS AND TYPE 2 INITIATIVES AT THE WSSD IN JOHANNESBURG
While the Johannesburg meeting focused on activities to reduce poverty and improve
human health, there was strong recognition that the maintenance of healthy
environments was essential to these two goals. Coral reefs, sustainable fisheries and the
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) were mentioned in the final government agreed
statement. A major feature of the meeting was the development of ‘Type 2’ partnerships
between governments and development banks and agencies, especially NGOs, which can
deliver results directly in the ‘field’. Some of these partnerships were focused on coral
reefs. For example, Australia promised to assist developing states of the Asia Pacific region
with the management of tropical coastal fisheries, and also put special focus on the
marine resources of the Arafura and Timor seas that are shared between Indonesia, Timor,
Papua New Guinea and Australia. The USA and Japan pledged support to the UNEP and
ICRAN initiative to strengthen the network of key demonstration sites and broaden the
network to other coral reef regions.
GLOBAL NGO PARTNERSHIP FOR REEFS
Three major global conservation groups, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature
Conservancy and Conservation International, have formed a collaborative partnership
to accelerate efforts to establish new coral reef marine protected areas. The WWF
global coral reef work has 3 major categories: MPAs; fisheries; and ecoregion
conservation. These are supported by a range of tools including community-based
management, advocacy, communications, and innovative conservation finance.
Adaptation to climate change, pollution, aquaculture, and trade in endangered species
are key areas of activity. WWF is pioneering efforts to protect deepwater corals as
well. The TNC has established a platform for marine conservation, the ‘Southeast Asia
Center for Marine Protected Areas’, in Bali. This Center will fulfil a pivotal role in the
strengthening of MPA networks throughout the region. CI has been instrumental in
furthering conservation by developing a rapid appraisal methodology and then assisting
in the conservation of biodiversity-rich areas by either purchasing the land or providing
funds to divert damaging practices, like logging tropical rainforests. The partnership will
seek to develop and manage a series of larger MPAs across the Western Pacific to
ensure sustainability for the communities of users and also for biodiversity.
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