Dirk BryantDirk Bryant

Lauretta BurkeLauretta Burke

John McManusJohn McManus

Mark SpaldingMark Spalding

A collaboration of

World Resources Institute

International Center for Living AquaticResources Management

World Conservation Monitoring Centre

United Nations Environment Programme

Coral Reefs as mapped by Coral Reefs as mapped by DarwinDarwin

Reefs At RiskReefs At Risk is the first ... is the first ...

Systematic assessment of threats to the Systematic assessment of threats to the world’s coral reefsworld’s coral reefs

Global map showing location of reefs at riskGlobal map showing location of reefs at risk

The The Reefs at RiskReefs at Risk Indicator Indicator

LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh

Results are sobering ...Results are sobering ...

Nearly 60% of the world’s reefs were found Nearly 60% of the world’s reefs were found to be at risk from human activitiesto be at risk from human activities

Reefs with the highest levels of biodiversity Reefs with the highest levels of biodiversity are threatened are threatened

Most U.S. reefs are at riskMost U.S. reefs are at risk

Why Reefs MatterWhy Reefs Matter

Coral reefs are often called Coral reefs are often called the “Rainforests of the Sea”the “Rainforests of the Sea”

About 4,000 species of fish and 800 species About 4,000 species of fish and 800 species of reef-building coral have been identifiedof reef-building coral have been identified

Coral reefs are a vital protein Coral reefs are a vital protein source for many ...source for many ...

Globally, one-fifth of all animal protein Globally, one-fifth of all animal protein consumed by humans comes from marine consumed by humans comes from marine environmentsenvironments

Coral reefs provideCoral reefs providefood for one billionfood for one billionpeople in Asia alonepeople in Asia alone

Beach-related tourism is a Beach-related tourism is a major revenue earner ...major revenue earner ...

Florida’s reefs contribute $1.6 billion to the Florida’s reefs contribute $1.6 billion to the economy from tourism aloneeconomy from tourism alone

Caribbean countries Caribbean countries derive half of their derive half of their GDP from tourismGDP from tourism($8.9 billion in 1990)($8.9 billion in 1990)

Coral reefs can save human Coral reefs can save human lives.lives.Extracts are used to ...Extracts are used to ...

Treat infections, viruses, and other diseasesTreat infections, viruses, and other diseases

Prevent and treat skin cancerPrevent and treat skin cancer

Provide bone graftsProvide bone grafts

Coral reefs are a valuable Coral reefs are a valuable resource resource

Average Global Value of Ecosystem Services ($/HA/YR)

From Costanza et al.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Coral Reefs

Tropical Forests

Temperate Forests

The Reefs at Risk The Reefs at Risk IndicatorIndicator

Global distribution of coral Global distribution of coral reefsreefs

The The ReefsReefs at Risk at Risk indicator ... indicator ...

First global map of First global map of likelylikely threats to coral reefs threats to coral reefs

Predicts Predicts threat,threat, not actual reef condition not actual reef condition

We predicted threat based on We predicted threat based on proximity to damaging human proximity to damaging human activity...activity...

Using a geographic information system (GIS) Using a geographic information system (GIS) computer modelcomputer model

Incorporating 800 reef locations known to be Incorporating 800 reef locations known to be degraded as benchmarksdegraded as benchmarks

Using 14 global mapsUsing 14 global maps

Coral reef experts from around Coral reef experts from around the world helped ...the world helped ...

Develop the computer model Develop the computer model

Revise dataRevise data

Review resultsReview results

Threats to reefs from four Threats to reefs from four broad categories ...broad categories ...

Coastal developmentCoastal development

Marine pollutionMarine pollution

Overexploitation of resourcesOverexploitation of resources

Inland pollution and sedimentsInland pollution and sediments

Coastal development ...Coastal development ...

Dredging Dredging Construction Construction

materialsmaterials Building on reefsBuilding on reefs Nutrients from Nutrients from

sewage sewage Sediments Sediments Unregulated Unregulated

tourismtourism

Tourists can love reefs to Tourists can love reefs to deathdeath

Coastal development stress Coastal development stress factors ... factors ...

CitiesCities

SettlementsSettlements

Airports and military basesAirports and military bases

MinesMines

Tourist resortsTourist resorts

CitiesCities

SettlementsSettlements

Airports and military basesAirports and military bases

MinesMines

Tourist resortsTourist resorts

Estimated threat from coastal Estimated threat from coastal developmentdevelopment

LowLow

MediumMedium

HighHigh

Marine pollutionMarine pollution

Oil spillsOil spills

Discharge of oily Discharge of oily ballast waterballast water

Marine pollution stress factorsMarine pollution stress factors

PortsPorts

Oil tanks and wellsOil tanks and wells

Areas of intense shipping trafficAreas of intense shipping traffic

PortsPorts

Oil tanks and wellsOil tanks and wells

Areas of intense shipping trafficAreas of intense shipping traffic

Overexploitation and Overexploitation and destructive fishingdestructive fishing

Muro Ami Muro Ami Fishing Fishing

Overfishing

Destructive fishing damages Destructive fishing damages reefsreefs

Blast fishingBlast fishing

Fishing with Fishing with cyanidecyanide

Destructive fishing practices Destructive fishing practices in in Southeast Asia are Southeast Asia are widespreadwidespread

Areas atHigh Risk

Rivers transport inland Rivers transport inland pollution directly to reefspollution directly to reefs

Soil sediments Soil sediments resulting from resulting from deforestationdeforestation

Inappropriate Inappropriate agricultural agricultural practicespractices

Inland pollution and erosion Inland pollution and erosion

Erosion Erosion potential potential modeled for modeled for 3000 3000 watershedswatersheds

Estimated Estimated sediment sediment “plume” at “plume” at river mouthriver mouth

Integrated results:Integrated results:The The Reefs at RiskReefs at Risk indicator indicator

LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh

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

Low42%

Medium31%

High27%

Finding 1

Reefs of Southeast Asia are Reefs of Southeast Asia are the most threatenedthe most threatened

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Finding 2

Many areas of high diversity are Many areas of high diversity are also very threatenedalso very threatened

LowLow

MediumMedium

HighHigh

Finding 3

Almost two-thirds of Almost two-thirds of Caribbean reefs are Caribbean reefs are threatenedthreatened

LowLow

MediumMedium

HighHigh

JamaicaJamaica

BarbadosBarbados

U.S. Virgin U.S. Virgin IslandsIslands

Finding 4

Coral graveyardsCoral graveyards

Most reefs within U.S. waters Most reefs within U.S. waters are threatenedare threatened

FloridaPuerto Rico and U.S.Virgin Islands Hawaii

LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh

Finding 5

Overexploitation and coastal Overexploitation and coastal development are the greatest development are the greatest threats to reefsthreats to reefs

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Finding 6

Virtually no reef can be Virtually no reef can be considered pristine todayconsidered pristine today

ReefCheck survey finds most reefs overfishedReefCheck survey finds most reefs overfished

90%

The world’s reefs are not The world’s reefs are not sufficiently protected ...sufficiently protected ...

40 countries contain no protected reef areas 40 countries contain no protected reef areas

Management goals of most marine Management goals of most marine protected areas (MPAs) are not metprotected areas (MPAs) are not met

Finding 7

12 threatened reefs profiled12 threatened reefs profiled

Reefs and people can co-existReefs and people can co-exist

Treating sewage protects Treating sewage protects reefs and human healthreefs and human health

Eliminating perverse subsidies Eliminating perverse subsidies protects reefsprotects reefs

Signs of PromiseSigns of Promise

Combating threats to coral Combating threats to coral reefs ...reefs ...

Solutions includeSolutions 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 includeSolutions 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 profiledSeven success stories profiledSeven success stories profiled

ApoApo BermudaBermuda

Healthy ReefsHealthy Reefs

http://www.wri.org/wri/http://http://www.wri.org/wri/www.wri.org/wri/