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Status of Caribbean coral reefs after bleaching and hurricanes in 2005

Status of Caribbean coral reefs after bleaching and hurricanes in 2005

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Sponsor<strong>in</strong>g Organisations, Coral Reef Programs <strong>and</strong> Monitor<strong>in</strong>g NetworksRAMSAR - CONVENTION ON WETLANDSThe Ramsar Convention on Wetl<strong>and</strong>s, was signed <strong>in</strong> Ramsar, Iran <strong>in</strong> 1971 <strong>and</strong> broadly def<strong>in</strong>es ‘wetl<strong>and</strong>s’ to<strong>in</strong>clude all ‘areas <strong>of</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e water the depth <strong>of</strong> which at low tide does not exceed six metres’ (Article 1.1). Inthe designation <strong>of</strong> Wetl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> International Importance (Ramsar sites) it also explicitly allows the <strong>in</strong>clusion<strong>of</strong> ‘coastal zones adjacent to the wetl<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>s or bodies <strong>of</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e water deeper than six metres at lowtide ly<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> the wetl<strong>and</strong>s’ (Article 2.1). Coral <strong>reefs</strong> are recognised as a category <strong>of</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e <strong>and</strong> coastalwetl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> the Ramsar Wetl<strong>and</strong>s classification. Specific guidance on the identification <strong>and</strong> designation <strong>of</strong><strong>coral</strong> <strong>reefs</strong> is provided <strong>in</strong> Ramsar Wise Use H<strong>and</strong>book 14, 3rd edition 2007 (available on: www.ramsar.org/lib/lib_h<strong>and</strong>books2006_e.htm). There are 63 designated Ramsar sites that <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>coral</strong> <strong>reefs</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g importantsites <strong>in</strong> Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, France (overseas territories), Gu<strong>in</strong>ea, Honduras,Islamic Republic <strong>of</strong> Iran, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philipp<strong>in</strong>es, South Africa, Thail<strong>and</strong>, The Netherl<strong>and</strong>s (overseasterritories), United K<strong>in</strong>gdom (overseas territories) <strong>and</strong> Venezuela, but many important <strong>coral</strong> <strong>reefs</strong> have yet to bedesignated as Ramsar sites, <strong>and</strong> a priority for further designation <strong>of</strong> <strong>coral</strong> reef Ramsar sites has been recognisedby the Convention’s Contract<strong>in</strong>g Parties. Contact: Nick Davidson, Deputy Secretary General, Ramsar Secretariat,Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gl<strong>and</strong>, Switzerl<strong>and</strong>; davidson@ramsar.org; www.ramsar.org/types_<strong>coral</strong>.htm;<strong>in</strong>formation on <strong>coral</strong> reef Ramsar sites at Ramsar Sites Information Service; www.wetl<strong>and</strong>s.org/rsis/.REEF CHECK FOUNDATIONThe Reef Check Foundation is dedicated to research, education <strong>and</strong> conservation with respect to two ecosystems:tropical <strong>coral</strong> <strong>reefs</strong>; <strong>and</strong> California rocky <strong>reefs</strong>. With headquarters <strong>in</strong> Los Angeles <strong>and</strong> volunteer teams <strong>in</strong> morethan 90 countries <strong>and</strong> territories, Reef Check works to create partnerships among community volunteers,government agencies, bus<strong>in</strong>esses, universities <strong>and</strong> other non-pr<strong>of</strong>its. Reef Check ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s 4 major <strong>in</strong>itiatives:to educate the public about the value <strong>of</strong> reef ecosystems <strong>and</strong> the current crisis affect<strong>in</strong>g mar<strong>in</strong>e life; to createa global network <strong>of</strong> volunteer teams tra<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> Reef Check’s scientific methods who regularly monitor <strong>and</strong>report on reef health; to facilitate collaborations that produce ecologically sound <strong>and</strong> economically susta<strong>in</strong>ablesolutions; <strong>and</strong> to stimulate local community action to protect rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g prist<strong>in</strong>e <strong>reefs</strong> <strong>and</strong> rehabilitate damaged<strong>reefs</strong> worldwide. Contact: Gregor Hodgson or Cori Kane, PO Box 8533, Calabasas, CA 91372; rc<strong>in</strong>fo@reefcheck.org; www.ReefCheck.orgRRRC - REEF AND RAINFOREST RESEARCH CENTRE.The Reef <strong>and</strong> Ra<strong>in</strong>forest Research Centre Limited (RRRC) was established <strong>in</strong> 2006 to implement the AustralianGovernment’s Mar<strong>in</strong>e <strong>and</strong> Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) <strong>in</strong> North Queensl<strong>and</strong>. As the successorentity to the CRC Reef (Cooperative Research Centre) <strong>and</strong> the CRC Ra<strong>in</strong>forest, the RRRC builds upon theknowledge base developed through the CRC to ensure that targeted, focused research is delivered to appropriateend-users <strong>and</strong> management agencies. The RRRC manages scientific projects that comprehensively addressissues <strong>of</strong> concern for the susta<strong>in</strong>able use, management <strong>and</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) <strong>and</strong> itscatchments as well as the issued for the ra<strong>in</strong>forests <strong>of</strong> the Wet Tropics, through the generation <strong>and</strong> transfer <strong>of</strong>world-class research <strong>and</strong> the shar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> knowledge. Great Barrier Reef research conducted through the RRRC<strong>in</strong>cludes studies <strong>in</strong>to the impacts <strong>of</strong> climate change <strong>and</strong> destructive pest outbreaks on the <strong>coral</strong> reef systems, theecological <strong>and</strong> socio-economic effects <strong>of</strong> the mar<strong>in</strong>e protected areas <strong>in</strong> the GBR, coastal zone risk <strong>and</strong> threats<strong>and</strong> advances <strong>in</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able use <strong>of</strong> the GBR. Contact: Sheriden Morris, Sheriden.morris@rrrc.org.au; www.rrrc.org.auUNEP - UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMMEThe mission <strong>of</strong> UNEP is to provide leadership <strong>and</strong> encourage partnerships <strong>in</strong> car<strong>in</strong>g for the environment by<strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> enabl<strong>in</strong>g nations <strong>and</strong> peoples to improve their quality <strong>of</strong> life without compromis<strong>in</strong>gthat <strong>of</strong> future generations. UNEP makes a particular effort to nurture frameworks <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiatives at the local,national, regional <strong>and</strong> global level which enhance the participation <strong>of</strong> governments <strong>and</strong> civil society - the privatesector, scientific community, NGOs <strong>and</strong> youth - <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g together towards susta<strong>in</strong>able utilisation <strong>of</strong> naturalresources. The challenge before UNEP is to implement an environmental agenda that is <strong>in</strong>tegrated strategicallywith the goals <strong>of</strong> economic development <strong>and</strong> social well-be<strong>in</strong>g; an agenda for susta<strong>in</strong>able development. Contact:UNEP, PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya; <strong>in</strong>fo@unep.org; www.unep.org141

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