Location
SPREP LIBRARY
Publisher
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Publication Year:
2006
Publication Place
Arendal, Norway
Physical Description:
40 p.
Call Number
[EL]
Material Type
Language
English
Record ID:
36075
Legacy PEIN ID:
76078
General Notes
Available online
Available online
Subject Heading(s)
Marine pollution
Climate change
Coastal ecosystems - Resilience
Abstract
Massive coral bleaching episodes have impacted the function of the reefs and increased rates of mortality. Coral reefs support over one million plant and animal species and their economic value is pro¬jected to more than US $ 30 billion annually. Extreme climatic con¬ditions, however, are most likely to increase in the future with cur¬rent climate scenarios. Projected increases in carbon dioxide and temperature exceed the conditions under which coral reefs have flourished over the past 500 000 years. Coral reefs are crucial bio¬diversity hotspots and support both coastal fisheries and tourism in many regions. Coral reefs, however, are in decline in many regions as a result of numerous pressures, including, but not limited to, extreme climate events, unsustainable fishing practices, diseases, sedimentation, and discharge of untreated sewage. Increasing re¬silience and securing rapid recovery of coral reefs will be essen¬tial for the ability of these ecosystems to support coastal fisheries and coastal livelihoods and cultures in the future. However, this resilience and recovery may be seriously impounded by unsustain¬able coastal infrastructure development and marine pollution from land-based sources. At the current rate of growth, coastal develop¬ment may impact up to 90% of the tropical and temperate coast¬lines by 2032 if development continues unchecked. While progress has been made to reduce the discharge and impacts of oil spills and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), there now needs to be a focus on the largest current threats to the coastal marine environment : untreated sewage and piecemeal coastal development.
Location
SPREP LIBRARY
Publisher
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Publication Year:
2006
Publication Place
Arendal, Norway
Physical Description:
40 p.
Call Number
[EL]
Material Type
Language
English
Record ID:
36075
Legacy PEIN ID:
76078
General Notes
Available online
Record Created: 15-Oct-2009
Record Modified: 20-Sep-2022