ABOVE: Coral restoration using Biorock in
Gili, Lombok, Indonesia
IMAGE: Shutterstock
For more information on IYOR 2018, go to http://www.iyor2018.orgsecond IYOR was implemented in 2008
with objectives similar to the first, but
with the added focus of sustainable
management of ocean resources.
This year, a third IYOR was announced
because the level of public awareness,
and action by decision-makers, was
deemed insufficient by ICRI to halt
coral bleaching. IYOR 2018 will
build on previous efforts and
emphasise increased international
cooperation between governments,
the private sector, academia, and the
general public.
IYOR seeks to motivate
organisations and the public to protect
coral reefs by educating them on the
ecological and economic value of
corals, as well as empower them in
doing so by sharing knowledge
on proper and sustainable
management techniques.
Its initiatives target different
levels of society, from government
regulatory bodies to students in
schools. These initiatives include
exhibitions and seminars by experts,
public awareness projects by NGOs
and students, symposiums to
share research among members of
academia, and campaigns to promote
more sustainable practices by coastal
communities and companies.
Countries in Asia that adopted
IYOR 2008 include India, Indonesia,
Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan,
and Thailand. IYOR 2008 saw a large
number of events across participating
nations, especially in Asia where
the Coral Triangle is located. The
Coral Triangle is famous for being
the world’s densest concentration
of marine biodiversity – it contains
76 percent of all known coral species
and over 3,000 species of fish despite
covering only 1.5 percent of the world’s
oceans.
While IYOR 2018 events are still
rolling out – and will continue to do
so throughout the year – some of the
biggest stakeholders of coral reefs are
already redoubling their efforts.
The Philippines, a country
emcompassed by the Coral Triangle, is
hosting the 4th Asia Pacific Coral Reef
Symposium (APCRS) from June 4–8.
APCRS provides a forum for scientists,
educators, environmentalists and other
local stakeholders in the region to
share knowledge and experience on all
aspects of coral reef management
to produce more effective solutions.
Malaysia, a country bordering the
Coral Triangle, has taken a more
direct approach. Reef Check Malaysia,
a marine conservation organisation,
has planned beach clean-ups in seven
locations around the country in March
to raise awareness about the impact
of marine debris on reefs and their
inhabitants. The initiative is anything
but a simple cleanup – the trash
collected will be analysed to determine
its nature and source, providing
invaluable data that can be used to
lobby government and companies to
take stronger action for conservation.
The Maldives has launched the
Dive with a Purpose expedition –
biologists from the Maldives Whale
Shark Research Programme will beconducting seasonal research dives
in tandem with 20 guests. The group
will document the newly discovered
monsoon migration involving whale
sharks, manta rays, and turtles
around the Maldives, collecting data
to better protect these animals known
collectively as the “Maldivian big
three”. The expedition will run from
May 26 till June 2.A DECADE OF OCEAN SCIENCE
In the same spirit of international
cooperation, UNESCO is launching
another initiative, but on a more
long-term basis. The Decade of Ocean
Science for Sustainable Development
has been designated from 2021 to
2030 and encourages the collation of
research data worldwide, teaching
coastal communities the economic
benefits of sustainable ocean
management. Aside from data, the
initiative will see pooled international
research resources like satellites and
observation platforms for common
use. This alleviates a particularly
sore spot for developing countries
such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the
Philippines that lack the manpower,
knowledge and equipment to perform
research and implement reef
protection measures compared to
their richer counterparts. UNESCO’s
initiative, if implemented dutifully, will
enable these countries to contribute
more effectively.
The effectiveness of this round of
initiatives remains to be seen, but it
is certain that a colossal effort will
be required to reverse the damage
wrought by global warming. The
question remains, is it too late? AD