Meetings Other Relevant Events, Side Events
Time to act for coral reefs
March 25th, 2021, 14h00 – 16h00 GMT+1
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided
Moderator: Dr David Obura Director, CORDIO East Africa, Chair IUCN Coral Specialist Group/Member, Earth Commission
Welcome – H.E. Bernard Fautrier (5’), Special advisor of HSH the Sovereign Prince for Environment, Monaco
The 2021 Status of Coral Reefs of the World Report (20’)
Dr. David Souter, Chief Research Officer, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville and Global Coordinator, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
The first results of the GCRMN Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2021 will be presented. This is the first global GCRMN report since 2008. The report examines the status of and trends in the world’s coral reefs over the last 40 years, and is based on a single global dataset consisting of almost 2 million observations from more than 12,000 monitoring sites in 75 reef-bearing countries.
Q&A (10’)
Coral reef restoration to improve ecosystem services (10’)
Dr. Margaux Hein, ICRI consultant
Coral reef restoration is becoming a popular tool to assist the recovery of damaged coral reefs. Over the last twenty years, several methods have been developed and applied with varying levels of success. A recent report by the ICRI and provides guidelines for optimising the use of coral reef restoration as a tool to maintain reef ecosystem services.
Projections of future coral bleaching conditions using IPCC models (10’)
Gabriel Grimsditch, Programme Management Officer, Coral Reef Unit, UNEP
The third global coral bleaching event, which started in 2014 and extended well into 2017, was the longest coral bleaching event on record. This recent global bleaching event of 2014-2017 represents what climate model projections presented in this Report suggest may become the norm over the coming two decades. Importantly though, great spatial variation exists in the projected timing of the onset of annual severe bleaching (ASB) conditions among the world’s coral reefs. This report updates the UNEP 2017 report with projections of the timing of severe coral bleaching conditions using the new generation of climate models used by the IPCC – the CMIP6 generation of models.
The World Coral Conservatory (WCC): A Noah’s ark for corals to support survival of reef ecosystems (10’)
Dr. Nadia Ounais, Oceanographic Institute, Vice -president, International Affairs and Dr. Didier Zoccola, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Senior Scientist
Climate change causes global decline of coral reefs. Using the network of World Public Aquariums, WCC proposes to build a “Noah’s Ark” biological repository for corals. Seawater aquaria will serve as a reservoir for the purpose of conservation, restoration, and research of coral reefs to preserve these ecosystems that provide invaluable services to humankind. In addition to the environmental and scientific significance, this project will provide a global dimension to coral reef education and protection thanks to the involvement of the worldwide network of public aquariums.
The importance of considering coral reefs at the international level (10′)
Emily Corcoran, ICRI consultant
Over the past 2 years, ICRI has been actively engaged in the inclusion of coral reefs into the upcoming GBF Post-2020. In May 2020 a Recommendation for the inclusion of coral reefs and related ecosystems within the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted. The Recommendation includes a set of clear indicators that measure the health, integrity and function of coral reefs including live coral cover, coral reef extent, fish abundance, and coral reefs that are under some form of area-based management. Through the Recommendation, CBD Parties are strongly encouraged to prioritise coral reefs by including clear, specific and actionable indicators in the Global Biodiversity Framework, which will inform interventions aimed at improving reef integrity, quality and function.
The future of coral reefs (10’)
Dr. Joanie Kleypas, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Saving coral reefs is a huge challenge that requires a coordinated approach, i.e., building on current best practices while supporting research on new innovations to increase reef resilience, adapting policies to streamline their implementation and promoting positive changes in human behavior. Ultimately, climate mitigation is the foremost action to prevent coral reef collapse, but this concept emphasizes that reef recovery requires a well-designed blueprint, with political and social commitments with the leadership and funding to execute it.
Round table with the panellists (15-20’)