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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 Dominican Republic In 2000, the Dominican Republic passed a new environmental law creating a Department of Environment and Natural Resources and streamlining the environmental review process required for development. Despite the new law, environmental management is still inadequate and many coral reef systems continue to be threatened by anthropogenic impacts. Many MPAs continue to exist as ‘paper parks’ as the required management and funding are not in place. Haiti There is no enforcement of existing legislation. The outlook for the marine and coastal environment remains bleak with only one organisation attempting to monitor, research, and protect the marine environment. The Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversite Marine is under-funded and overwhelmed. Jamaica Jamaica has had a long history of protecting different areas using several discrete legal acts, e.g. Forest Act (1942) Wild Life Protection Act (1945), Beach Control Act (1956). A National Protected Areas system, an integrated system of parks and marine protected areas, was established through the joint effort of the Government of Jamaica and USAID through the Protected Areas Resource Conservation (PARC) project in 1989 and the National Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act of 1991. The NRCA, renamed National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) in 2001, has responsibility for taking ‘such steps as are necessary for the effective management of the physical environment of Jamaica so as to ensure the conservation, protection and proper use of its natural resources.’ Unfortunately, the coral reefs around Jamaica continue to suffer from a lack of effective management. Turks and Caicos There is no specific marine conservation policy. However, some laws do refer to marine resources, although these are often conflicting. The government has developed an Environmental Charter that sets out government commitment to develop its natural resources in a sustainable manner to maximise the long-term benefit for the country. The Fisheries and the National Parks Ordinance (1975 and 1992) are currently undergoing revision. GAPS IN CURRENT MONITORING AND CONSERVATION CAPACITY Most countries have limited capacity to monitor their reefs to support effective management of these resources. Long-term monitoring is often dependent on overseas scientists and/or funding organisations and ceases when project funding terminates. Bermuda has a history of long-term monitoring. The Bermuda Biological Station has had an established program of coral reef research and monitoring for 80 years and reefs are well mapped and studied. Funding for marine monitoring in the Cayman islands is relatively good, but laws are outdated for reef conservation which is being bypassed through a need for economic development. The Cuban reefs are probably the least damaged reefs in the region, but there is little monitoring and conservation capacity to handle the rapid tourism 296
Status of Coral Reefs in the Northern Caribbean and Atlantic Node of the GCRMN development. Conservation may depend on co-management with tourist operators and better environmental education for stakeholders, communities and decision-makers. In contrast, the coral reefs on the neighbouring island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) are severely degraded and there is very little capacity for monitoring and conservation. Existing MPAs are not well managed and formal training in marine sciences and coastal management is limited. Major tourist centres have inadequate treatment of sewage and solid wastes. On the large island of Jamaica, the government lacks monitoring and enforcement capacity. Environmental education is critical to all levels of the community to avoid current conflicts between tourism and fishery interests, and to inform of the benefits of integrated coastal management. Similarly, conservation agencies on Turks and Caicos Islands are under-staffed. Staff in management agencies lack the experience and equipment to carry out daily operations. Inter-sectoral conflicts between agencies continue and there is a need for key stakeholders and users to be involved in monitoring and conservation. CONCLUSIONS Bahamas Isolated reef systems are still relatively healthy, and new MPAs have been declared almost doubling the size of protected areas. Impacts from tourism-related and coastal development, however, still pose a threat to reefs, particularly where development is intensive and dive tourism is unregulated. Bermuda Coral reefs are relatively healthy, and fish populations are improving slowly as a result of the protected ‘no-take’ areas. Cayman Islands Coral reefs are generally in good condition, though there are some obvious signs of impacts, particularly on the more developed island of Grand Cayman. Reef fish populations are still healthy, though showing some signs of increasing fishing pressure. Cuba Offshore reefs are still comparatively healthy and are considered to be some of the best in the Caribbean. Northern reefs and those close to high population centres are more impacted. With the expected increase in tourism, effective management of the MPAs is critical to ensure that the negative effects of intensive coastal development do not damage reefs. Dominican Republic Deterioration of near-shore reefs continues particularly in areas where coastal development is high, and where reefs are very accessible. Over fishing remains widespread. Legislation exists to protect marine resources, but the required management is lacking. Haiti The outlook remains bleak for coral reefs in Haiti. Unregulated harvesting of resources continues to damage reefs, and there are still no MPAs. The political and economic situation in Haiti remains unchanged so there is unlikely to be any change in the environment in the near future. 297
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Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
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FOREWORD Our two governments have r
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CONTENTS Countries, States and Terr
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COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
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Countries, States and Territories S
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INTRODUCTION We are pleased to endo
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Introduction Some of the larger fou
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Introduction Coral reefs are coming
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON A
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Executive Summary This report, howe
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Executive Summary GLOBAL AND REGION
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Executive Summary There is clear ev
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Executive Summary Key sites chosen
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Executive Summary • Europa and Sc
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Executive Summary CORAL REEF TARGET
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Executive Summary ICRI OPERATING UN
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Executive Summary COLLAPSE OF CORAL
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Executive Summary Prognosis for the
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Executive Summary concern is an out
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Executive Summary Southern Tropical
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Executive Summary Achievements in E
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7. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CORAL R
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Status of Southeast Asia Coral Reef
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8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN EAST AN
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Status of Coral Reefs in East and N
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9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
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Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
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10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
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12. STATUS OF THE CORAL REEFS IN MI
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Status of the Coral Reefs in Micron
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13. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE HA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaii
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Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
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19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
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Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
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#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

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