Progress report for
Improving Coral Reefs Protection for Effective Conservation
Achievement at a glance
Coral reefs represent a crucial component of the ocean’s system and provide billions of people with core ecosystem services. Yet there is low engagement for effective conservation and increasing evidence of degradation and regime shifts from multiple human pressures. What is currently lacking is the understanding of the value of the ecosystem integrity considering the trade-offs within the sustainable use safety limits of ecosystems whilst simultaneously meeting societal needs. Most environmental scientists recognize the Anthropocene as new geological age in which the major planetary changes are being caused by one species: Homo sapiens. Yet humanity does not feel responsible. Anthropocene #OceanOptimism Decisions should be based on scientific information. Coral reefs researchers have knowledge or/and experience therefore it is OUR responsibility to assist DEVELOPING THE WILL undertaking the challenge of steering effectively.<br>The current trend of development is allowing the destruction of coral reefs, with fake promises of mitigation and restoration without controlling the causes of local and global threats adding another impact to the small healthy and resilient coral reef areas when breaking coral colonies or collecting larvae from the wild to experiment in the lab show to build super corals that stand the unsustainable developing goals. Developers funding buy some consciences to get the support of the governments for destroying coral reef areas, which makes difficult to succeed in scaling up any efforts for recovery. Developers with advanced engineering technology should move away their projects from coral reef areas instead of hiring coral reef researchers to justify moving out tons of corals pieces out of their way.
<br>Our Volunteer Commitment #OceanAction14819 aims to provide multidisciplinary environmental education to enhance awareness and compliance improving coral reefs effective conservation.
<br>Recent progress has been reached with the slogan "Better to prevent than to Cure" within our Environmental Campaign. The Coral Reefs Observatory from the Foundation ICRI Colombia and its National Network of Volunteer Observers of the Coral Reefs (RENOVO) have created alliances to accomplish its volunteer commitment #OceanAction14819 under the following principles for coral reef conservation effectiveness: 1) Resilient coral reefs should be protected 2) Prevention is better than to cure; 3) Unsustainable development should be avoided in coral reef areas; 4) Threats should be banned for effective restoration; 5) Environmental Management is about people; 6) The knowledge of local users should be taken into account when decisions are made; 7) Monitoring is relevant for adaptive management.
<br>Our Research has focused on the analysis of the decision making process identifying the myths that hampers effective coral reef conservation in Colombia. Results have been presented at the International Congress on Conservation Biology held in #Cartagena #Colombia on July 2017 #ICCB2017, during the Symposium on Coral Reefs Conservation Effectiveness organized by our Director Nohora Galvis.
<br>Scientists from all over the world were invited by the Director Nohora Galvis, to dive in the most resilient coral reef of Colombia #VaraderoColombia https://youtu.be/zDcGjZb6vRYYout.ube before and during #ICCB2017. Afterwards there were testimonies of international participants who dove there and now favor the urgent need to protect the #CoralesBahíaCartagena facebookvideo
<br>This moth we started our campaign #MonthOfTheReef2017 #MesDelArrecife2017
<br>Next moth we will celebrate #DayOfTheReef #DíaDelArrecife the 5th of December
<br>Immediately after starts our campaign to support #IYOR2018
<br>(International Coral Reef Initiative).
<br>- The observatory within the network of volunteer observers of the reefs has taken / received photos and videos from coral reef areas to keep records of changes. Daily observations were reported by artisanal fishermen and diving operators in a systematic way to monitor fishing and dive sites in Colombian coral reef areas. Qualitative reports, based on underwater videos and photos, served to study the progression of the invasion of Lionfish Pterois volitans in the Colombian Caribbean and to identify species in order to request governmental conservation in non-protected coral reef areas such Capurganá-Cabo Tiburon, Choco and Varadero, Cartagena.
<br>Our citizen science program successfully contributed to provide evidence that led the community that became the best guardian of the coral reefs, and prompted decision makers to improve conservation effectiveness, such as the promise of Julia Miranda National Parks Director at the @ICCB2017 Plenary that the government is considering protecting the most resilient Caribbean coral reef areas: Capurganá-Cabo Tiburón, Choco and Varadero, Cartagena.
<br>We (in alliances with local biologists, the communities of fishermen, scuba diving operators, media, private sector, and other NGOs such the Society for Conservation Biology), have addressed the general public and top decision makers with photos and videos showing them with the ecological, social and economic values of effective coral reef conservation. https://youtu.be/1XZ9zhREUkQ
<br>We have involved stakeholders (local Artisanal Fishermen Scuba, Diving Operators, Tourism operators); international /national scientists and top decision makers (e.g. The Colombian President, Procuraduria General de Colombia, National Parks Director and Research Institution, INVEMAR, National Licenses ANLA Director and Research Institution, INVEMAR Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development).
<br>Follow our activities that are transparently published on the social media:
<br>http://icri-colombia.blogspot.com.co
<br>https://Facebook.com/ICRI.COLOMBIA
<br>https://twitter.com/ArrecifesCoral
<br>https://twitter.com/ICRIcolombia