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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Restoration of the Mexican Pacific coral reefs using natural remediation techniques

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Academic institution
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#OceanAction42319
    Description
    Description
    The increase in the intensity and frequency of abnormal seawater temperature associated with climate change, and ocean acidification, appear to be significant to the worlds coral reefs as promoters of major bleaching and mortality events observed in recent years; these are added the impact of tourism, fishing and the dumping of pollutants have generated high rates of mortality in organisms worldwide. At the Central Mexican Pacific coral communities are considered as the ones with the highest richness in the region, and are distributed at insular and coastal locations. The branching coral Pocillopora spp. is the genera which the highest abundance and species richness, but also is the one most affected by several bleaching events with high mortality rates (>90%); although is the most affected genera also is highly resilient. Due the abundance, this genera is the main contributor into the maintenance of the reef structure and organisms associated. Due the high rate of loss on coral coverage at the region, there is an urgent need to improve conservation and management strategies by attempting to mitigate negative impact effects over coral communities and promoting species recovery. The purpose of this project is the use of natural fragmentation as a remediation process to increase the coral coverage of the coral community of the coral reef systems at the Mexican Pacific, and specifically two of the proposed sites are Natural Protected Areas. This restoration program will be a baseline for long-term conservation and management techniques ensuring not only the permanence of the Eastern North Pacific coral communities, but the goods and services that the society depends.

    Using govermental resources from Mexico as also National Geographic Society funds, from 2014 to date, over 2,000 healthy Pocillopora fragments have been attached to the natural substrata (coral matrix or rocks). The survival rate of the fragments. Only 350 fragments were tagged for monthly measurement and monitoring. The mean growth rate ranges from 0.18 0.02 to 0.35 0.01 cm/month, and to date, we have registered a survival of 89%.

    The project is working in three Natural Protected Areas which are considered a biodiversity hotspot at the region. At the same time we were starting the project local decision-makers decided to close the area as an urgent management response to the non-controlled increase of tourist influx in the site as the affectation to the coral community and the organisms associated. Our project contribute to the short-term management actions, and due the possitive result the area is now open but with a restricted use of the coralline areas. We were able to involve the private and touristic sector which develops a high sense of conservation for the area. Our long-term goal is not only to continue with the restoration, but also with the monitoring in order to ensure the success of the project.
    Partners
    CENTRO UNIVERSITARIO DE LA COSTA-UNIVERSIDAD DE GUADALAJARA (ACADEMIC INSTITUTION); NATIONAL COMISSION OF NATURAL PROTECTED AREAS-CONANP (INTERGOVERMENTAL ORGANIZATION)

    Goal 13

    Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

    Goal 13

    13.1

    Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

    13.1.1

    Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

    13.1.2

    Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

    13.1.3

    Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

    13.2

    Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

    13.2.1

    Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    13.2.2

    Total greenhouse gas emissions per year

    13.3

    Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

    13.3.1

    Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

    13.a

    Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible

    13.a.1

    Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025

    13.b

    Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities


     

    13.b.1

    Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    Implement an environmental education program focused on children mainly focused on the care of coral reefs
    Increase of 1% live coral coverage covering
    Reach a total of 4000 fragments planted
    Promote at least another 3 restoration sites along the region
    Financing (in USD)
    80000
    In-kind contribution
    During some phases of the project, tourism cooperatives as well as actors from the private sector have contributed in kind with the use of boats and diving equipment loans.
    Staff / Technical expertise
    In the project currently collaborating two researchers and several graduante and under graduate students from the University of Guadalajara, and staff of PROZONA with specific research on coral communities in the region
    Title Progress Status Submitted
    Partnership Progress 2020-01-31 On track
    Partnership Progress 2018-12-07 On track
    False
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    Timeline
    01 April 2014 (start date)
    01 December 2021 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Centro Universitario de la Costa, Universidad de Guadalajara
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    PUERTO VALLARTA, JALISCO, MEXICO
    Other beneficiaries
    LOCAL ACTORS (FISHERMAN, RESTOURANT OWNERS AND TOURISM SERVICE PROVIDERS)
    Ocean Basins
    North Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Coral reefs, Marine and coastal ecosystems management
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    ALMA RODRGUEZ-TRONCOSO, DRA.