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Six countries draft protocol on coral reef management
Ni Komang Erviani , Contributor , Denpasar | Fri, 09/05/2008 11:26 AM | Headlines
In a move to help preserve the region's coral reefs, the six member countries of the Coral Triangle Initiative have agreed on a draft protocol on protecting coral reefs from the effects of climate change.
The six countries, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands, agreed on the measures during a forum in Denpasar, Bali, from Monday to Thursday.
The forum participants, including government representatives, NGOs and scientists from across the globe, decided to set up a Planning Response Coral Bleaching System and Coral Bleaching Alert Network. Their aim is to spearhead the creation of a protocol on the adaptation and protection of coral reefs within the coral triangle.
The Planning Response Coral Bleaching System includes guidelines on ways to monitor coral bleaching. The Coral Bleaching Alert Network programs an early warning system in the event of coral bleaching in a particular area.
The implementation of the systems will be supported by satellite surveillance from the U.S.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Climate adaptation scientist from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Elizabeth McLeod, said the planned protocol was expected to act as a guideline in predicting and detecting the presence of coral bleaching, because early identification could minimize the adverse impacts of climate change on coral reefs and allow for immediate action.
According to McLeod, the protocol will act as a strategy in adapting to climate change.
Implementation will differ in each country according to its capacity and condition.
She added that several reports show the world's coral reefs would be completely depleted by 2050 if no immediate action was taken to retard the rate of destruction.
The initiative is deemed crucial in curbing coral destruction, because more than 50 percent of the world's coral species are found in the coral triangle.
TNC country director Rili Djohani pointed out no effects of climate change on the condition of coral reefs in Indonesia had yet been observed.
"Coral reefs in Indonesia tend to be more resistant toward climate change thanks to cooler underwater currents in the seas in Indonesia," Rili said.
"The temperature of our oceans doesn't change much, so they are quite resistant toward the effects of global warming."
Around 33,150 square kilometers of the total 51,000 sq. km of coral reef areas in Indonesia are in a critical condition. About 12,750 sq. km, or about 25 percent, are still in good condition, while only around 5,100 sq. km, or 10 percent, are in pristine condition.
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Borsa — Mon, 09/08/2008 - 5:20am
Coral reef management in Indonesia
Over 60% of the coral reefs in Indonesia are already in critical condition. The culprits are not coral bleaching and global warming, but overfishing, bomb fishing, hypersedimentation caused by soil erosion, embankment, dredging, tailings from ore mining and urban pollution.
Monitoring coral bleaching is simply an insufficient if not inadequate measure to prevent the continuing degradation of coral reef ecosystems in Indonesia. Whatis needed is strong political will to stop deforestation (to preserve soils from erosion), outlaw submarine tailing disposal, treat sewage, regulate fishing, protect mangroves (they act as natural filters and retention areas for fine sedimenst and organic matter), set up an ambitious network of no-fishing areas, and enforce protection measures.
Local fishing communities should be fully involved in the protection measures. Destructive practices like bomb fishing should effectively be halted. Bottom trawling should be banned, as it mostly occurs on soft-bottom areas with scattered coral colonies.
Otherwise, the coral reef "biodiversity triangle" will soon become a true "desolation triangle". It is time to act, not talk.
Philippe Borsa
Noumea, New Caledonia