[Coral-List] A lesson for the coral sciences

Thu Sep 8 17:30:32 UTC 2022

Great message Bill,

It is necessary to open our minds and speak up about the coral reef's
future and the role of scientists https://youtu.be/6xKjG48zvEI

Being optimistic, it is to consider that it is still possible to avoid
coral reef destruction and further degradation. We must express our concern
that developers are hiring some scientists to justify coral reef pollution,
dredging, overfishing and other threats to coral reefs with promises to
restore them after the megaprojects that will produce continued
disequilibrium to the ecosystems.  This is not a personal attack against
anybody or any business in particular, the one who feels alluded to will
have proved the fact that he or she is involved or making a living by
supporting unsustainable development.

Scientists should not approve this behavior as the future of coral reefs is
at risk. Better to illustrate developers with sustainable alternatives
where to implement their projects instead of denying negative impacts on
coral reefs.  Stop hiding the reason of failure of conservation programs
that guide the poor investment to tackle the causes of coral reef
degradation, and the lack of accountability for biodiversity conservation.
Otherwise, it may hamper the international efforts to protect life below
water. According to Xu et al. 2022 other reason of failure in biodiversity
conservation is the lack of effective national targets in accordance with
the Aichi Targets
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348767162_Ensuring_Effective_Implementation_of_the_post-2020_global_biodiversity_targets_Nature_Ecology_an_Evolution
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348767162_Ensuring_Effective_Implementation_of_the_post-2020_global_biodiversity_targets_Nature_Ecology_and_Evolution>
 Nat Ecol Evol DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01375-y

Three of the four SDG14 targets due in 2020 were not achieved, with the
fourth target only partly achieved.
https://www.wwf.eu/?360550/Failing-SDG14-EU-on-a-cliff-edge-for-ensuring-a-sustaina
<https://www.wwf.eu/?360550/Failing-SDG14-EU-on-a-cliff-edge-for-ensuring-a-sustainable-ocean>

*All the best for Reef Futures 2022,*

*Nohora Galvis *
*International Coral Reef Observatory*
*Twitter in English: @ICRIcolombia*
*Observatorio Internacional de Arrecifes Coralinos *
*Twitter en Español: @ArrecifesCoral  *
https://www.facebook.com/ICRObservatory/
*Instagram ICR_Observatory *                   *Youtube ICRI Colombia*

El mié, 7 sept 2022 a las 14:11, Bill Allison via Coral-List (<
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>) escribió:

> Backtracking half a century
> Johannes, R. E. (1975). Pollution and degradation of coral reef
> communities. Tropical Marine Pollution. E. J. Ferguson Wood and R. E.
> Johannes. Amsterdam, Elsevier. 12: 13-51.
> "... environmental crises develop faster than they can be completely
> assessed. In this context it is more important to make interim decisions in
> time than to make more scientifically satisfying decisions later. Pollution
> biologists sometimes inject too much traditional laboratory caution into
> matters of immediate practical concern. They hesitate because their
> information is not final. But information is never final in science, which
> proceeds by disproof rather than by proof.
> The fact that biologists have sometimes erred in their warnings about
> environmental degradation is no justification for abdicating the
> responsibility to speak up - any more than the fact that scientists
> sometimes publish mistakes means we should all abandon publishing, Those
> who remain silent when their observations point to environmental decay are
> the undertakers of the environment; environmental post mortems become their
> stock and trade. “They measure and we weep.”"
> Thoughts and prayers, eh hoser.
>
> On Mon, Sep 5, 2022 at 1:19 PM Steve Mussman via Coral-List <
> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>
> >
> > It is interesting that you took it that way Gene, but I interpreted it
> > differently.
> >
> > I was thinking more of the idea that science “should be seen as a project
> > that does not just describe the world, but brashly wants to change it”.
> In
> > this way I was actually envisioning coral scientists as advocates for
> > change as in consistently displaying a greater willingness to emphasize
> the
> > need to clean up our oceans, address climate change and alter the way we
> > interact with the natural world as the primary prerequisites for “saving”
> > coral reefs.
> >
> > “We must learn to see science as a vehicle, not a dodge for human agency:
> > something we are right to make demands of, right at times to get angry
> at,
> > whose terrible failures it must own along with its triumphs”. To me this
> > brought to mind the idea that if coral reefs continue to decline and if
> > societies continue to choose not to aggressively address major stressors
> > such as water quality and climate change, then the coral science
> community
> > may need to prepare to accept increasing levels of criticism for their
> > collective failure to sound the alarm with adequate forcefulness.
> >
> > And again finally . . .
> >
> > “A science that people will follow must lead”.
> >
> > I thought Dr Fauci did lead and led effectively at least for those who
> > value science. He wasn’t perfect, but he followed the science and pointed
> > the way out all while being undermined, usurped and even threatened by
> his
> > detractors. I wish we had more like him in the coral science community
> who
> > would be willing to speak truth to power.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > On 9/1/22, 1:53 PM, Eugene Shinn via Coral-List <
> > coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
> >
> > Thank You Steve Mussman, I certainly agree. I have seen many accepted
> >
> > scientific theories be proven wrong in my lifetime and not just in Coral
> >
> > Reef science. I am often reminded of Mark Twain who once said, "Tis
> >
> > easier to fool people than to convince them they were fooled" Gene
> >
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> >
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