[Coral-List] UNESCO & Climate Change

Hershowitz, Ari ahershowitz at nrdc.org
Tue Jul 5 20:08:38 EDT 2005


[coral-list moderator-- No need to post my response unless you feel it is appropriate to include with Dr. Martin's email below]

Dear Dr. Martin,

Your point is well-taken. Indeed, many reefs worldwide are in danger from climate change.  However, only a few of these are listed as World Heritage sites and therefore eligible for the "In Danger" designation.  This designation has a specific technical definition within the UNESCO World Heritage system, namely that:

i. the property under consideration is on the World Heritage List;

ii. the property is threatened by serious and specific danger;

iii. major operations are necessary for the conservation of the property;

iv. assistance under the Convention has been requested for the property;

The World Heritage-listed reefs clearly meet criteria i-iii --as you point out, the operations necessary to save these sites are major, and Belizeans have requested assistance under the Convention (satisfying iv).  The Committee then has to determine what assistance the Convention could provide--including simply drawing public attention to the fact that our international efforts to protect many World Heritage sites from local threats are being undermined by climate change.

Best,
Ari Hershowitz
Director, BioGems Project, Latin America
Natural Resources Defense Council

-----Original Message-----
From:	Martin Pêcheux [mailto:martin.pecheux at free.fr]
Sent:	Tue 7/5/2005 6:45 PM
To:	Hershowitz, Ari; coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov; wh-info at unesco.org; Wild Christian
Cc:	
Subject:	Re: [Coral-List] FW: UNESCO & Climate Change ????
Dear Ari Hershowitz, Hi feeling fellows,

Declare he Belize Barrier Reef "In Danger" due to climate change ???? But all reefs are in danger due to climate change !!!
I would even say: they were. Half too late  for today (already 48% corals gone, Wilkinson and 239 others, 2004, tab. p. 9; at least 3/4 due to global change I am sure), and
given it is seemingly exponential (roughly 2-3% in 1980, 10% in 1992, 48% today) and inertia of economics (but consciousness chain reaction ? dixit Einstein)

To declare in danger one reef in particular can only lead people to think that the others are safe. Your approach is dangerous.
And what can you do in particular agaisnt climate change in Belize ? Reduce greenhouse gas (we all agree it urges), so its worth for all reefs....

Best regards,

-- Dr. Martin Pêcheux
Institut des Foraminifères Symbiotiques
16, rue de la Fontaine de l'Espérance, 92160 Antony, France
martin.pecheux at free.fr
+33(0) 8711 804 32
Publications at  www.reefbase.org

To be read absolutely by any scientific, and by anyone who wants to know
what is Science, the famous funny George Perec:Tomatotropic
(also one level up, http://pauillac.inria.fr/~xleroy/stuff)

Tuesday 5 July 2005: International Fête of Aphelion, 152.1 millions km, greatest distance between Earth and Sun
As Earth is like a spinning top, we will fêté it at the Autumn Solstice in about 5000 years. This is the precession cycle which has done part of the glacial cycles, particularly before 800
kyr, and a little again since 400 kyr. Since 800 kyr, the 100 kyr excentricity cycle dominates, why ?? El Niño ??





"Hershowitz, Ari" a *crit :

> Dear Coral list,
>
> Please consider the request below to help environmental groups in Belize who are asking the World Heritage Committee to declare the Belize Barrier Reef "In Danger" due to climate change.
>
> Thanks,
> Ari Hershowitz
> Director, BioGems Project, Latin America
> Natural Resources Defense Council
>
> Subject: UNESCO & Climate Change:  Send e-mail now!
>
> E-Bulletin
> Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, U.S.
> =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
>
> *** PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY AND TAKE ACTION BY JULY 8th ***
>
> July 1, 2005
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> E-LAW partners in Belize, Nepal, and Peru need your help to urge the
> UNESCO World Heritage Committee to protect glaciers in the Himalayas and
> Andes, and coral reefs off Belize from the dangers of climate change.
>
> Pioneering lawyers submitted groundbreaking legal petitions to UNESCO in
> November 2004 that link environmental damage to these World Heritage
> Sites to climate change.  They are asking the World Heritage Committee
> to declare the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Huascarán National
> Park in Peru, and Mount Everest and the Sagarmatha National Park in
> Nepal as World Heritage Sites “In Danger,� thereby establishing a
> duty among nations that are Parties to the Convention to protect these
> sites.
>
>   From July 10th - July 17th, the World Heritage Committee meets in
> Durban, South Africa.  We are helping E-LAW partners mobilize support
> for their petitions and asking you to urge the Committee to save these
> critical ecosystems for future generations.
>
> To learn more and submit an e-mail letter, please visit:
>
> http://www.elaw.org/campaigns/info.asp?id=2929
>
> Please write before July 8th.  Let the World Heritage Committee hear
> from people all over the world who are concerned about the impacts of
> climate change on irreplaceable natural treasures.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jennifer Gleason
> Staff Attorney
> E-LAW U.S.
>
> P.S.  E-mail messages received during the meeting (July 10 - 17) will
> also be valuable.  Thank you!
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list








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