The Contribution of Science to Solving Issues related to Corals and other Marine Biodiversity Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization

IOC and UNESCO Member States’ views on Ocean Sciences for Policy-Making Ocean Sciences activities to be policy-relevant and with an emphasis on communicating results to Member States Scientific underpinnings of marine assessments could provide a focus for policy-relevant applications

Three possible models (non-exclusive) 1. Coordinating the production of best scientific knowledge for which there is a policy demand 2. Repackaging best scientific knowledge in a format (content & language) acceptable by and useful to policy-makers 3. Communicating best available scientific knowledge

Biogeography of the Deep Sea Benthos: A scheme for delineating large-scale biogeographic provinces of high seas areas Les Watling, Kathy Scanlon, Elva Escobar Briones for the Global Open Oceans and Deep Sea-habitats (GOODS) Expert Panel Mexico City, January Coordinating the production of best scientific knowledge for which there is a policy demand

Methods: Review of literature Compilation of bathymetry, hydrography, and organic matter deposition Compilation of unpublished data Mapping of variables to assess areas of major change Production of GIS maps Combine literature information, unpublished data and use of hydrography to estimate province-level biogeographic classification NOTE: Large expanses of ocean have no data for bottom-dwelling species (benthos)

Fine grained sediment, flat, with flow related features Benthic Habitat Types from Seamounts and Ridges Anemone octocoral Large, single-celled organism with sand house

Basalt wall sponges Gorgonian corals

Basalt, pavement, biogenic structure Coral is habitat for brittle stars, worms, and crabs

Lower Bathyal Biogeographic Provinces for depths 800 – 3500 m Province Key: 1, Arctic. 2, North Atlantic Boreal. 3, North Pacific Boreal. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, subdivisions of the Central Atlantic- Indian-South Australian. 5, Pacific. 6. New Zealand-Kermadec. 7, Cocoplatensis. 8, Nazcaplatensis. 9, Antarctic

Abyssal Biogeographic Provinces for the Depths 3500 – 6500 m Province key: 1, Arctic Basin. 2, North Atlantic. 3, Brazil Basin. 4, Angola and Sierra Leone Basins. 5. Argentine Basin. 6, East Antarctic and Southern Indian. 7, West Antarctic and SE Pacific. 8, Indian. 9, Chile, Peru, and Guatemala Basins. 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, subdivisions of Pacific Basin.

The Assessment of Assessment on the State of the Marine Environment (including socio-economic aspects) 2. Repackaging best scientific knowledge in a format (content & language) acceptable by and useful to policy-makers

UNGA at its 60th session (2005), adopted resolution 60/30 on oceans and the law of the sea established: 1.Ad Hoc Steering Group (AHSG) oversees execution of “Assessment of Assessments” (MS representatives appointed by UNGA Chairs, UN agencies FAO, IMO, WMO, ISA, DOALOS, GESAMP) 2.Two United Nations agencies, (IOC of UNESCO & UNEP) co-lead the process; and 3.A Group of Experts (GoE) carry out the “Assessment of Assessments” Organization AoA

20 high level independent experts selected and proposed by UNEP& IOC nomination endorsed by Ad Hoc Steering Group all UN regions represented Expertise in : Environmental assessments Oceanography Marine Ecology /Biology/Geology Fisheries Law/ Policy Social sciences Three expert meetings organized since March 2007 Assessment of Assessments GROUP OF EXPERTS

2007 Survey Report commissioned by UNEP & IOC Summary & Conclusions Summarizes key considerations for establishing an assessment process Provides starting point for conducting the “AoA"  Highlights patchiness of data  Recognizes gaps and emerging issues Recommends  New ways to address capacity-building  Need to systematic efforts to fill the information and knowledge gaps Peer reviewed by GESAMP Supporting Database: entries

01 Antarctic Ocean 12 North-West Pacific Ocean 02 Arctic Ocean 13 Red Sea & Gulf of Aden 03 Baltic Sea 14 ROPME/RECOFI Area 04 Black Sea 15 South Asian Seas 05 East Asian Seas 16 South-East Pacific Ocean 06 Eastern African Seas 17 Southern Indian Ocean 07 Mediterranean 18 Southern Pacific Ocean 08 North Central Pacific Ocean 19 South-West Atlantic Ocean 09 North-East Atlantic Ocean 20 Western African Seas 10 North-East Pacific Ocean 21 Wider Caribbean Sea 11 North-West Atlantic Ocean AoA 21 Regions adopted by the Group of Experts

The Assessment of Assessments (AoA)

Please check the new AoA website

3. Communicating best available scientific knowledge Proposal to produce Policy Briefs on a regular basis highlighting state of the art and further research needed for decision-making Possible topics: Ocean acidification, coral diversity, …

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