Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean Lauretta Burke / Jon Maidens World Resources Institute

Presentation Overview  Background on Reefs at project series  Partnership for Caribbean  Project concept and method  Key findings of analysis  Future events and products

The Information Need  Few Coral Reefs Have Been Monitored  Inadequate Information on Changes in Coral Reefs  Much Data Is Unavailable  Integrated Monitoring Programs Are Needed

Global Analysis released in 1998 by World Resources Institute, in collaboration with ICLARM, WCMC and UNEP

The Reefs at Risk Index Low Medium High

 Global Reefs at Risk successful at raising awareness.  Relatively coarse-scale (4km.)  Global Reefs at Risk successful at raising awareness.  Relatively coarse-scale (4km.) Regional Reefs at Risk series  Higher resolution analysis – valuable for management  More integration and improvement of data Regional Reefs at Risk series  Higher resolution analysis – valuable for management  More integration and improvement of data

Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean  Collaboration of over twenty international and regional partners  Uses Geographical Information System (GIS) to evaluate threat to coral reefs

Caribbean Project Collaborators Research Institutions and Universities  AGRRA  CARICOMP  Florida International University  GCFI  NCORE  University of Miami  University of South Florida  University of the West Indies (UWI) NGOs  CCA  CORALINA  Environmental Defense  FoProBiM  IRF  TNC  REEF  Reef Check  WWF

Caribbean Project Collaborators Government Agencies and International Organizations  GCRMN  ICRAN  UNEP-CEP  UNEP-WCMC  US NASA  US NOAA  World Bank / GEF MBRS Project  The World Fish Center Financial Support  The Munson Foundation  The Henry Foundation  Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs  Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)  United Nations Foundation  UNEP-CEP  USAID

Goals of Reefs at Risk  Raise awareness about threats to coral reefs  Establish linkages between human activity and coral condition  Develop a standardized indicator of threat to coral reefs from human activities  Promote sharing and improvement of information through data integration and distribution

Main Components of Reefs at Risk project:  Collection and integration of background data sets on coral reefs and factors contributing to reef degradation  Modeling of threats to coral reefs  Evaluate economic losses likely to result from coral reef degradation

Threats Evaluated in Caribbean:  Coastal Development  Watershed-based sources of sediment and pollution  Marine-based threat  Overfishing

Also Examined:  Coral Bleaching  Coral Disease

Threat Analysis Method  Inferential modeling

 Dredging, land filling and reclamation  Mining of sand and coral  Runoff from construction  Sewage discharge  Impacts from tourism Threat: Coastal Development Replace photo

Finding: COASTAL DEVOPMENT threatens an estimated one-third of Caribbean coral reefs. Low Medium High Estimated threat

Threat: Sediment and Pollution from Inland Sources  Land clearing  Poor agricultural practices  Fertilizer and pesticide runoff

Watersheds are critical units for analysis and management Puerto Rico Elevation

Watersheds are critical units for analysis and management Puerto Rico Watersheds & Rivers

Watersheds are critical units for analysis and management Puerto Rico Pour points

Watershed-based analysis

Finding: SEDIMENT AND POLLUTION FROM INLAND SOURCES threaten more than one-third of Caribbean coral reefs. Low Medium High Estimated threat

Threat: Marine-based Pollution and Damage  Discharge of ballast water  Oil spills and leaks  Anchor damage and groundings

Finding: MARINE-BASED THREATS to coral reefs are widespread across the Caribbean. Low Medium High Estimated threat

Threat: Overfishing  Widespread fishing exceeding sustainable levels  Alters ecological balance on coral reef  Overharvest of many commercially valuable species

Finding: OVERFISHING threatens over 60 percent of Caribbean coral reefs. Low Medium High Estimated threat

Regional Summary LowMediumHighVery High

Finding: INTEGRATED THREAT - nearly two-thirds of Caribbean coral reefs are threatened by human activities. Low Medium High Very High Estimated threat

How much reef are we talking about here?

Finding: Degree of human pressure on coral reefs varies considerably across the region. LowMediumHighVery High

Sub-Regional Summary – Continental SW Caribbean LowMediumHighVery High Reefs at Risk in the Continental Southwestern Caribbean

LowMediumHighVery High Reefs at Risk in Puerto Rico Country Summary – Puerto Rico

Finding: Finding: Diseases and rising sea temperatures threaten to damage coral reefs across the Caribbean region.

Management effectiveness of 285 Caribbean MPAs 6% of MPAs rated as good 13% of MPAs rated as partially effective 48% of MPAs rated as inadequate 33% of MPAs under an unknown level of management With the growth of tourism, fisheries, and other development in coral reef areas, marine protected areas (MPAs) are an important tool for safeguarding coral reefs.

Protection of the 26,000 sq km of coral reefs in the region 80% of reefs outside of MPAs 1% of reefs in MPAs rated as good 3% of reefs in MPAs rated as partially effective 9% of reefs in MPAs rated as ineffective 7% of reefs in MPAs under an unknown level of management Ineffective management of protected areas further threatens Caribbean coral reefs.

Finding: If current trends in coral reef degradation continue, coastal communities and national economies are poised to sustain substantial economic losses.

Valuation: Coral reef-associated fisheries   Net annual revenues of over $300 million in   Fisheries could decline by 30-45% by 2015  Estimated loss of net revenues between US$95 million to US$140 million per year by 2015.

Valuation: Dive Tourism   Net annual revenues of over $2 billion in   Coral degradation could results in a 2-5% reduction in revenues by 2015  Estimated loss of net revenues between US$100 million to US$300 million per year by 2015.

Valuation: Shoreline Protection   Over 20% of Caribbean coastline protected by coral reefs.   Estimated value of this service is between $700 million and $2.2 billion.  Reef degradation could result in losses estimated between US$140 million to US$420 million per year by 2050.

Policy Recommendations  Create the Will for Change  Build Capacity for Change  Improve Management  International Action

Create the Will for Change  Raise awareness  Consider long-term economic value in decision-making

Build Capacity for Change  Training  Exchange Experience  Facilitate Participation in Decision- making  Integrate Socioeconomic and Environmental Monitoring

Improve Management  Sustainable Fisheries  Holistic \ Integrated Management  Improve MPA management  Develop Tourism Sustainably  Manage Wastes

International Action  International Agreements  International cooperation and exchange

Products / Information

Integrated Data Sets for Region - on CD  Coral reef maps  Coral reef status parameters  Physical landscape data  Infrastructure  Socioeconomic variables  Estimated threat to coral reefs

Products  English and Spanish reports  Data CD  Web Site  Interactive online GIS  Country Profiles on the Web

Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean Thank you! World Resources Institute