Coral Reef Breakthrough

Latest Context:

1. Recently, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) in partnership with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the High-Level Climate Champions (HLCC) has launched the Coral Reef Breakthrough (CRB).
2. CRB was launched at the 37th ICRI General Meeting, 2023.

What are Coral Reefs?

1. These are large underwater structures primarily composed of living organisms known as coral polyps. These polyps secrete calcium carbonate to form hard, rock-like structures. Over time, these structures accumulate and create the complex reef systems that we associate with coral reefs.
2. Coral reefs are often referred to as "rainforests of the sea" due to their incredible biodiversity. They provide a habitat to a wide variety of marine species, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.
3. These reefs are of immense economic importance as they support fisheries, tourism and other recreational activities, providing livelihoods to millions of people around the world.
4. They also act as natural barriers that protect coastlines from the damaging effects of storms, hurricanes, and erosion. They absorb wave energy, reducing the impact on the shore.
5. Coral reefs are mostly found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world, particularly in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. Some of the most famous coral reefs are the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in the Caribbean, and the Coral Triangle in Southeast Asia.

Challenges in front of Coral Reefs ecosystem are:

1. Climate Change: Rising sea temperatures can lead to coral bleaching, where corals expel the symbiotic algae that provide them with essential nutrients, causing them to lose their colour and vitality. Repeated bleaching events can result in coral death.
2. Ocean Acidification: Increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere lead to ocean acidification, where CO2 is absorbed by the oceans. This makes it more difficult for corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons, weakening the reef structure and its ability to support marine life.
3. Overfishing and Destructive Fishing Practices: Overfishing, as well as the use of destructive fishing practices like blast fishing, can deplete fish populations on coral reefs. This disrupts the delicate balance of the ecosystem as some species play key roles in reef health.
4. Pollution: Runoff from land-based activities introduces pollutants, such as sediment, agricultural chemicals, and sewage, into coastal waters. These pollutants can reduce water quality, all of which can harm coral reefs.
5. Tourism and Recreational Activities: Uncontrolled tourism and recreational activities, such as snorkeling and diving can lead to physical damage to corals.
6. Invasive Species: Invasive species, such as crown-of-thorns starfish, can prey on and destroy corals, disrupting the reef ecosystem.

What is Coral Reef Breakthrough (CRB)?

1. Basically, the CRB is a science-based initiative with clear goals for the state and non-state actors (like NGOs) to collectively conserve, protect, and restore coral reefs.
2. With investments of at least USD 12 billion, the CRB intends to safeguard the future of at least 125,000 km² of shallow-water tropical coral reefs by 2030, thereby supporting the resilience of more than half a billion people worldwide.
3. Achieving the targets of CRB will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG14- Life Below Water.

CRB is based on four action points:

1. To eliminate local factors that pose danger to coral reefs such as land-based sources of pollution, unplanned coastal development, overfishing etc.

2. To double the area of coral reefs under effective protection and to promote resilience-based coral reef conservation efforts by aligning with global coastal protection targets including 30 by 30. This 30 by 30 is a global initiative to protect at least 30% of the Earth's land and ocean area by 2030. This initiative was proposed during the UNCCD Conference of Parties (COP15).

3. To assist in the development and implementation of creative solutions at large scale and to promote climate-smart designs that support coral adaptation to impact 30% of degraded reefs by 2030.

4. To get investment of at least USD 12 billion by 2030 from public and private sources to conserve and restore the coral ecosystems.

Way Forward:

1. Efforts to address the above challenges include the establishment of marine protected areas, sustainable fishing practices, pollution control measures, coral restoration initiatives, and global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Coral reef conservation requires collaboration among governments, communities, scientists, and conservation organizations to ensure the long-term survival of these valuable ecosystems.

Additional Information:

About International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)

1. ICRI is a partnership of governments, international organizations, and the non-governmental organizations dedicated to the preservation and sustainable management of coral reefs and related ecosystems around the world.
2. It was established in 1994 in response to growing concerns about the degradation and decline of coral reefs due to various environmental threats, including climate change, overfishing, pollution, and coastal development.
3. Presently, ICRI has 101 members, including 45 countries (India is one of them).

Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR)

1. GFCR is a finance instrument to integrate action and resources to protect and restore the   coral reef ecosystems.
2. Many UN Agencies, states, philanthropies, private investors and organisations have joined it.

High-Level Climate Champions (HLCC)

1. HLCCs are appointed by the UN to increase the engagement of non-state actors such as businesses, cities, regions, and investors in supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

 

 

 

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