Dirk Bryant Lauretta Burke John McManus Mark Spalding Dirk Bryant Lauretta Burke John McManus Mark Spalding A collaboration of World Resources Institute International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management World Conservation Monitoring Centre United Nations Environment Programme

Coral Reefs as mapped by Darwin

Reefs At Risk is the first... u Systematic assessment of threats to the world’s coral reefs u Global map showing location of reefs at risk u Systematic assessment of threats to the world’s coral reefs u Global map showing location of reefs at risk

The Reefs at Risk Indicator Low Medium High

Results are sobering... u Nearly 60% of the world’s reefs were found to be at risk from human activities u Reefs with the highest levels of biodiversity are threatened u Most U.S. reefs are at risk u Nearly 60% of the world’s reefs were found to be at risk from human activities u Reefs with the highest levels of biodiversity are threatened u Most U.S. reefs are at risk

Why Reefs Matter

Coral reefs are often called the “Rainforests of the Sea” u About 4,000 species of fish and 800 species of reef-building coral have been identified

Coral reefs are a vital protein source for many... u Globally, one-fifth of all animal protein consumed by humans comes from marine environments u Coral reefs provide food for one billion people in Asia alone u Globally, one-fifth of all animal protein consumed by humans comes from marine environments u Coral reefs provide food for one billion people in Asia alone

Beach-related tourism is a major revenue earner... u Florida’s reefs contribute $1.6 billion to the economy from tourism alone u Caribbean countries derive half of their GDP from tourism ($8.9 billion in 1990) u Florida’s reefs contribute $1.6 billion to the economy from tourism alone u Caribbean countries derive half of their GDP from tourism ($8.9 billion in 1990)

Coral reefs can save human lives. Extracts are used to... u Treat infections, viruses, and other diseases u Prevent and treat skin cancer u Provide bone grafts u Treat infections, viruses, and other diseases u Prevent and treat skin cancer u Provide bone grafts

Coral reefs are a valuable resource Average Global Value of Ecosystem Services ($/HA/YR) From Costanza et al.

The Reefs at Risk Indicator

Global distribution of coral reefs

The Reefs at Risk indicator... u First global map of likely threats to coral reefs u Predicts threat, not actual reef condition u First global map of likely threats to coral reefs u Predicts threat, not actual reef condition

We predicted threat based on proximity to damaging human activity... u Using a geographic information system (GIS) computer model u Incorporating 800 reef locations known to be degraded as benchmarks u Using 14 global maps u Using a geographic information system (GIS) computer model u Incorporating 800 reef locations known to be degraded as benchmarks u Using 14 global maps

Coral reef experts from around the world helped... u Develop the computer model u Revise data u Review results u Develop the computer model u Revise data u Review results

Threats to reefs from four broad categories... u Coastal development u Marine pollution u Overexploitation of resources u Inland pollution and sediments u Coastal development u Marine pollution u Overexploitation of resources u Inland pollution and sediments

Coastal development... u Dredging u Construction materials u Building on reefs u Nutrients from sewage u Sediments u Unregulated tourism

Tourists can love reefs to death

Coastal development stress factors... u Cities u Settlements u Airports and military bases u Mines u Tourist resorts u Cities u Settlements u Airports and military bases u Mines u Tourist resorts

Estimated threat from coastal development Low Medium High

Marine pollution u Oil spills u Discharge of oily ballast water

Marine pollution stress factors u Ports u Oil tanks and wells u Areas of intense shipping traffic u Ports u Oil tanks and wells u Areas of intense shipping traffic

Overexploitation and destructive fishing u Muro Ami Fishing u Overfishing

Destructive fishing damages reefs u Blast fishing u Fishing with cyanide

Destructive fishing practices in Southeast Asia are widespread Areas at High Risk

Rivers transport inland pollution directly to reefs u Soil sediments resulting from deforestation u Inappropriate agricultural practices

Inland pollution and erosion u Erosion potential modeled for 3000 watersheds u Estimated sediment “plume” at river mouth

Integrated results: The Reefs at Risk indicator Low Medium High

58% of the world’s reefs are at risk from human activities Finding 1

Reefs of Southeast Asia are the most threatened Finding 2

Many areas of high diversity are also very threatened Low Medium High Finding 3

Almost two-thirds of Caribbean reefs are threatened Low Medium High Jamaica Barbados U.S. Virgin Islands Finding 4

Coral graveyards

Most reefs within U.S. waters are threatened Florida Puerto Rico and U.S.Virgin Islands Hawaii Low Medium High Finding 5

Overexploitation and coastal development are the greatest threats to reefs Finding 6

Virtually no reef can be considered pristine today ReefCheck survey finds most reefs overfished 90%

The world’s reefs are not sufficiently protected... u 40 countries contain no protected reef areas u Management goals of most marine protected areas (MPAs) are not met Finding 7

12 threatened reefs profiled

Reefs and people can co-exist

Treating sewage protects reefs and human health

Eliminating perverse subsidies protects reefs

Signs of Promise

Combating threats to coral reefs... Solutions include environment-friendly economic opportunitiesenvironment-friendly economic opportunities coastal zone planning and managementcoastal zone planning and management educationeducation participatory decision-makingparticipatory decision-making enforcing lawsenforcing laws protection (marine parks and reserves)protection (marine parks and reserves) Solutions include environment-friendly economic opportunitiesenvironment-friendly economic opportunities coastal zone planning and managementcoastal zone planning and management educationeducation participatory decision-makingparticipatory decision-making enforcing lawsenforcing laws protection (marine parks and reserves)protection (marine parks and reserves)

Seven success stories profiled Apo Bermuda

Healthy Reefs