[Coral-List] Leading by Example (International Coral Reef Observatory)

[International Coral Reef Observatory]

Thanks Ruleo for your insights,

We should look for EFFECTIVE solutions. In Spanish we have a saying "Del
Afán solo queda el cansancio". If we look for "Instant solutions"
perhaps those will not be the appropriate ones, if we really aim to save
any hope for Caribbean coral reef ecosystems.

Effective solutions will be to implement technology to avoid sewage and
other pollutants like plastic, etc, to go directly to coral reefs. We
should use and recommend green alternatives for energy supply. Our
lifestyles should be transformed accordingly to avoid further climate
change. Definitely we should stop green / blue washing. This last one was
one of the conclusions of the Caribbean and Latin American Roundtable of
UNEP this week in Bogota, Colombia.

In the whole Caribbean, you and many of us have experience finding ways to
control invasive species e.g. Lionfish. Experimenting in the wild at large
scales bringing species from other oceans may become potential danger to
native species that are trying to survive. Those proposals may become part
of the problem that reduces local resilience.

Yesterday I attended the webinar "Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature
(OCEAN)" and congratulated them on their focus on empowering communities to
address the Ocean Crisis. Increasing the involvement of local communities
improves coral reef management effectiveness, that is a fact. We have in
the Caribbean Sea two Hope Spots in Colombia and because of the involvement
of the local fishers and their families, we have avoided the destruction of
coral reefs with megaprojects that already had the approval from
restoration practitioners.

Happy World Wetlands Day 2024 !!

Nohora Galvis
International Coral Reef Observatory, ICRO
ICRS World Reef Award
Facebook ICRObservatory
Twitter / Instagram / Youtube ICR_Observatory

El vie, 2 feb 2024 a las 9:08, Ruleo Camacho via Coral-List (<
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>) escribió:

> Greetings,
>
> I am reaching out from a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) nestled
> within the Caribbean Sea. I deeply resonate with the sentiments expressed
> and acknowledge the risks associated with hastily pursuing the
> transplantation of "heat-resilient" corals. However, I believe there is
> merit in exploring diverse conservation strategies.
>
> In the summer of 2023, our attention was drawn to Caribbean reefs, with
> alarming discussions surrounding "local extinctions," particularly
> concerning acroporids. Presently, we face challenges in sourcing a
> sufficient number of unbleached corals to establish nurseries and for
> potential future outplanting efforts.
>
> While pollution and habitat destruction persist as pressing concerns, many
> islands are making strides in addressing these issues. Sustainable
> Development Goal 14 is integral to our daily lives. While a reduction in
> global shipping and travel during the COVID-19 pandemic had positive
> environmental implications, the economic realities of most SIDS preclude a
> return to such conditions.
>
> Post-COVID years have underscored the urgency for immediate solutions. Most
> progress that we observed in our reef systems were severely hampered from
> events like Urchin Die-offs, SCTLD, RTL, and coral bleaching. While
> addressing global challenges is crucial, there appears to be limited global
> appetite for change. The impacts of climate change on SIDS and Caribbean
> coral reefs will persist, irrespective of future actions. While mitigating
> local degradation is vital for enhancing system resilience, it will not
> shield our reefs from impending summers of extreme heat and disease
> outbreaks.
>
> We must indeed champion initiatives to reduce pollution, habitat
> degradation, and enhance overall coral reef health, encompassing the
> management of seagrass beds, rocky shorelines, beaches, and mangrove
> ecosystems. Additionally, a comprehensive "ridge-to-reef" management
> approach is imperative for the Caribbean basin. However, this does not
> negate the necessity for advancing discussions on more immediate solutions.
> This is precisely the purpose of our group.
>
> It is time to confront the tough conversations surrounding "instant"
> solutions if we are to salvage any hope for Caribbean coral reef
> ecosystems.
>
> Best regards,
>
> --
> Ruleo A. Camacho
> MSc Marine Biology (Coral Reefs)
> MSc Marine Policy (Alternative Marine Management Systems)
> US Fulbright Foreign Scholar 2013-6
> 1-268-728-3553 (Cell)
> 1-268-460-1252 (Home)
> ruleo.camacho (Skype)
>
> "Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to
> turn on the light" Albus Dumbledore
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