L-R: Alejandro Arrivillaga, The Nature Conservancy; Emily Pidgeon, Conservation International; Apu Suharsono, Research Centre for Oceanography, Indonesia; Rodney Salm, The Nature Conservancy; Elizabeth Taylor, Coralina; and Paul Lokani, The Nature Conservancy.
Apu Suharsono, Research Centre for Oceanography, Indonesia, outlined impacts to corals, mangroves and seagrasses of rising temperatures, sea level rise, increased storm intensity and ocean acidification. He highlighted the consequences for the communities reliant on these ecosystems, including decreased tourism potential and loss of livelihoods and coastal protection.
Rodney Salm, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), said resilience is developed in marine protected areas by: spreading risks; identifying critical areas, such as bleaching-resistant coral communities; as well as ensuring connectivity in marine protected areas and effective management.
Emily Pidgeon, Conservation International, provided an example from the Galapagos Islands’ response to the 1982/83 El Niño of how ecosystem resilience is reduced when other stressors, such as overfishing, interact with climate shocks.
Alejandro Arrivillaga, TNC, highlighted TNC activities in Central America, including: rapid reef assessments and eco-regional assessments that ensure adequate representation of marine protected areas throughout the region.
Paul Lokani, TNC, presented a project in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, which identifies resilient sites, and said effective management is key to successful implementation.
Elizabeth Taylor, Coralina, highlighted the multiple stressors on the Western Caribbean Oceanic Archipelago, and outlined policies to build resilience.
Discussion focused on: the cultural value of marine ecosystems; the increasing frequency and intensity of El Niño under climate change; and alternative livelihoods.
More information
http://www.nature.org
http://www.conservation.org
http://www.coremap.or.id
http://www.coralina.gov.co
Contacts
Apu Suharsono <director-rco@indo.net.id>
Rodney Salm <rsalm@tnc.org>
Emily Pidgeon <epidgeon@conservation.org>
Alejandro Arrivillaga <aarrivillaga@tnc.org>
Paul Lokani <plokani@tnc.org>
Elizabeth Taylor <elizabeth.taylor@coralina.gov.co>
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