[Coral-List] Leading By Example

[International Coral Reef Observatory]

Dear Colleagues,

Now that it is a scientific consensus that current restoration projects
based on breaking coral colonies have not solved the climate change impact,
or local coral reef degradation in the Caribbean Sea due to local threats
that have worsened the resilience of coral reefs, we all the coral listers
should lead by example and act now to avoid further coral reef degradation.

In 2000, I started to organize sessions at the International Coral Reef
Symposium to share the evaluation of coral reef management effectiveness in
different case studies (Countries) while I was developing my
transdisciplinary research. Unfortunately the results were that even coral
reef protected areas have dredged and enlarged ports to promote massive
tourism and overfishing which has hampered the objectives of protection. On
the other hand there was an increase in restoration projects that justified
the unsustainable development, hence the degradation of coral reefs.

Innovative ideas will not be to take coral reefs to Mars!! but to finally
get global and local effective management, meaning stopping any sources of
global and local pollution and other causes of coral reef degradation.
Corals will recover their resilience quality more effectively in their
natural environment when removing pollutants and avoid
destructive anthropogenic activities.  Please do not give up, it is still
possible.

During the Pandemic it was possible to reflect on the priorities of
protection of Life. We need to protect effectively Life Below Water. Lead
by example !! It is possible that we improve our lifestyles by adopting
ways to be more environmentally friendly, stopping confidential contracts
that will favor projects that destroy coral reefs with fake promises that
the coral reef will be saved by transplanting them to other places, while
distracting the attention to address the causes of diseases and mortality
of coral reef organisms.

Let us advise and look immediately for alternatives to transportation means
and Widespread environmental degradation due to breakneck economic growth.
Advising the governments to take steps to curb pollution, if we are part of
a stronger scientific coral reef society, this is not sitting passively in
front of a computer or a phone to spread the word to your students,
communities, media, policy makers.

Nohora Galvis
International Coral Reef Observatory, ICRO
ICRS World Reef Award
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