Progress report for
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)
Achievement at a glance
The GCRMN report 'Status and trends of coral reefs in the Pacific, prepared through collaboration between UN Environment, CRIOBE and SPREP, was launched in September 2018. Based on analysis of 20,000 surveys from 128 islands covering 19 countries or territories it is the most comprehensive report on coral reef status in the Pacific to date. While average coral cover at the regional level has only declined slightly, there is a change in the coral community towards more stress tolerant species, and herbivorous fish are on the decline. This suggest that coral reefs are already changing, illustrating the need for effective management of direct pressures as well as ambitious climate change mitigation.https://www.icriforum.org/news/2018/09/just-released-status-and-trends-coral-reefs-pacific.
https://www.sprep.org/news/first-of-its-kind-report-on-the-pacific-coral-reefs-launched
A GCRMN Coral reef status report for the Western Indian Ocean was launched in December 2017. The report was produced by the Indian Ocean Commission in cooperation with CORDIO and under the framework of the Nairobi Convention and ICRI. The analysis found that, while 30% of reefs showed evidence of high or severe bleaching during the 3rd global bleaching event, only 10% showed high or severe mortality. However, the threat from all major drivers of reef decline has also increased and is projected to continue to increase further in the coming decades.
https://www.icriforum.org/sites/default/files/COI%20REEF%20LR%20F2.compressed.pdf
An implementation and governance plan for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network is being developed through a working group led by UN Environment and the International Coral Reef Initiative. This will strengthen the network institutionally, and establishes data quality standards related to essential variables in coral reef monitoring programmes. The Implementation and Governance Plan will be presented for adoption at the 33rd ICRI General Meeting in December 2018. This also lays the foundation for preparation of a global GCRMN report on coral reef status and trends, to be published in 2020.