Scientists Present the “Honolulu Declaration” at World Conservation Congress
Scientists who wrote the “Honolulu Declaration on Ocean Acidification and Reef Management” have presented key findings and recommendations of the report to delegates of the World Conservation Congress being held in Barcelona this week.
The Honolulu Declaration was first presented to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in Kona, Hawaii back in August. The report provides recommendations in dealing with the issue of acidification of the oceans, and managing coral reefs around the world.
Ocean acidification is believed to be the biggest threat to our oceans today, and could virtually wipe out the world’s coral reefs before the end of the century.
Some of the recommendations in the report include:
- Stabilize CO2 emissions and reduce marine pollution across multiple channels;
- Mandate the inclusion of climate change actions into marine protected area management plans;
- Increase appropriations to improve the science and actions addressing ocean acidification impacts on coral reefs;
- Reduce all stresses on coral reefs as much as possible to enhance their health and resilience;
- Protect reefs that are less vulnerable to the impacts of ocean acidification by creating new marine protected areas and through zoning plans in existing ones;
- Develop, test and implement innovative interventions to reduce damage to weakened reefs and replenish species loss caused by ocean acidification; and
- Develop a collaborative international program on ocean acidification that includes a coordinated network of monitoring stations.
Governments around the world are starting to realize the threat that our coral reefs are under. Only a few days ago, the Queensland government of Australia agreed to step up efforts to save the Great Barrier Reef, following the ,release of a new report on water quality surrounding the reef.
Tags: coral reefs, ocean acidification
