WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
context. The maps in this book thus show major natural
features (forests, rivers, topography and bathymetry), but
also significant human factors, including settlements, dive
centers and marine protected areas.
The texts and tables provide information which
enables a more detailed interpretation of the information
provided on the maps, including information which cannot
directly be shown on the maps themselves. For all countries and territories where there are reefs, basic information
is provided describing the distribution of the reefs and
some ecological features. Human uses and impacts on
coral reefs are fiarther considered, including efforts to
control such impacts or protect coral reefs. Data tables list
all the protected areas with coral reefs, but also provide
directly comparable information describing the countries,
their reefs, and the human impacts on these.
Users of this book can learn about the location and
status of coral reefs around the world. Those traveling
regularly to coral reef areas, for leisure or for work, can use
the World Alias of Coral Reefs to learn about new areas
before they visit, to get a basic grounding in the ecology of
coral reefs, and to consider the issues and challenges facing
reefs in particular areas. Experts from particular locations,
or in particular subjects, can learn about other areas, and
gain useful information about different parts of the world.
A considerable amount of information held within the
pages of this atlas has never been published before.
The work includes a new, revised global estimate of the
total area of coral reefs worldwide. In Chapter 1 it is estimated that shallow coral reefs worldwide occupy some
284 300 square kilometers, an area about half the size of
Madagascar. This is less than 1.2 percent of the world's
continental shelf area, and only 0.09 percent of the total
area of the world's oceans. Coral reefs are a scarce, but
critically important resource.
An assessment of the area of coral reefs in individual
countries provides an important perspective on the
ownership and responsibilities associated with this critical
heritage. Indonesia is the largest coral reef country in the
world, followed by Australia and the Philippines. Also
high up the list are many small nations in terms of land
area: Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Maldives, the Marshall
Islands, Solomon Islands, Bahamas and Cuba.
Using information from the new taxonomic work
Corals of the World, JEN Veron has provided the very
latest information on coral biodiversity around the world.
National statistics have been calculated for all countries
and clearly illustrate the critical heritage which is
currently being threatened by human activities. The most
diverse region of the world for coral reefs is centered on
the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New
Guinea, with between 500 and 600 species of coral in each
of these countries. Unfortunately these are also some of
the most threatened coral reefs in the world.
Reef tourism is now a major global industry. Visitors
to the Great Barrier Reef increased from I.I million in
1985 to over 10 million in 1995. Scuba diving is probably
the most popular adventure sport in the world and vast
numbers of scuba divers visit coral reefs every year. A
new database has been gathered which gives the location
of dive centers around the world. This contains information on over 2 000 dive centers, marked on the maps
throughout this work. They show, quite clearly, that diving
tourism is now ubiquitous, and is located in 91 countries
and states.
Marine protected areas are becoming a critical tool for
the protection of coral reefs worldwide. They are being
widely used, not only for conservation, but also to enhance
fish catches, by protecting small stocks of fish which are
able to resupply adjacent areas. There are now some 660
marine protected areas worldwide which incorporate coral
reefs. These include two of the world's largest protected
areas, Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the northwestern
Hawaiian Islands, covering entire large ecosystems.
Unfortunately, many protected areas exist on paper
only - they are poorly managed and have little or no support or enforcement. Equally worrying is that in almost
every single case, protected areas are aimed solely at
controlling the direct impacts of humans on coral reefs.
Fishing and tourist activities may be controlled, but the
more remote sources of threats to reefs, notably pollution
and sedimentation from the adjacent land, continue
unabated. Without a more concerted effort to control all of
the impacts of humans on coral reefs even the best
managed marine protected areas may be managed in vain.
The same statistics also point to the important role
which a number of the world's very wealthy nations could
play in protecting the world's coral reefs. Australia,
France, the UK, the USA and even New Zealand hold
jurisdiction or significant influence over coral reefs in
their own waters and in the waters of their overseas
territories and associated states. Together these cover over
one quarter of the world's coral reefs.
There are other stories, however, which provide
valuable examples of success. Fisheries reserves in a few
areas are now revitalizing the food supplies and economies of local villages, while tourist income is paying
for the wise management of a number of important areas.
It is vital that the messages from these sites are carried as
swiftly as possible to all countries and communities who
depend on coral reefs.
context. The maps in this book thus show major natural
features (forests, rivers, topography and bathymetry), but
also significant human factors, including settlements, dive
centers and marine protected areas.
The texts and tables provide information which
enables a more detailed interpretation of the information
provided on the maps, including information which cannot
directly be shown on the maps themselves. For all countries and territories where there are reefs, basic information
is provided describing the distribution of the reefs and
some ecological features. Human uses and impacts on
coral reefs are fiarther considered, including efforts to
control such impacts or protect coral reefs. Data tables list
all the protected areas with coral reefs, but also provide
directly comparable information describing the countries,
their reefs, and the human impacts on these.
Users of this book can learn about the location and
status of coral reefs around the world. Those traveling
regularly to coral reef areas, for leisure or for work, can use
the World Alias of Coral Reefs to learn about new areas
before they visit, to get a basic grounding in the ecology of
coral reefs, and to consider the issues and challenges facing
reefs in particular areas. Experts from particular locations,
or in particular subjects, can learn about other areas, and
gain useful information about different parts of the world.
A considerable amount of information held within the
pages of this atlas has never been published before.
The work includes a new, revised global estimate of the
total area of coral reefs worldwide. In Chapter 1 it is estimated that shallow coral reefs worldwide occupy some
284 300 square kilometers, an area about half the size of
Madagascar. This is less than 1.2 percent of the world's
continental shelf area, and only 0.09 percent of the total
area of the world's oceans. Coral reefs are a scarce, but
critically important resource.
An assessment of the area of coral reefs in individual
countries provides an important perspective on the
ownership and responsibilities associated with this critical
heritage. Indonesia is the largest coral reef country in the
world, followed by Australia and the Philippines. Also
high up the list are many small nations in terms of land
area: Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Maldives, the Marshall
Islands, Solomon Islands, Bahamas and Cuba.
Using information from the new taxonomic work
Corals of the World, JEN Veron has provided the very
latest information on coral biodiversity around the world.
National statistics have been calculated for all countries
and clearly illustrate the critical heritage which is
currently being threatened by human activities. The most
diverse region of the world for coral reefs is centered on
the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New
Guinea, with between 500 and 600 species of coral in each
of these countries. Unfortunately these are also some of
the most threatened coral reefs in the world.
Reef tourism is now a major global industry. Visitors
to the Great Barrier Reef increased from I.I million in
1985 to over 10 million in 1995. Scuba diving is probably
the most popular adventure sport in the world and vast
numbers of scuba divers visit coral reefs every year. A
new database has been gathered which gives the location
of dive centers around the world. This contains information on over 2 000 dive centers, marked on the maps
throughout this work. They show, quite clearly, that diving
tourism is now ubiquitous, and is located in 91 countries
and states.
Marine protected areas are becoming a critical tool for
the protection of coral reefs worldwide. They are being
widely used, not only for conservation, but also to enhance
fish catches, by protecting small stocks of fish which are
able to resupply adjacent areas. There are now some 660
marine protected areas worldwide which incorporate coral
reefs. These include two of the world's largest protected
areas, Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the northwestern
Hawaiian Islands, covering entire large ecosystems.
Unfortunately, many protected areas exist on paper
only - they are poorly managed and have little or no support or enforcement. Equally worrying is that in almost
every single case, protected areas are aimed solely at
controlling the direct impacts of humans on coral reefs.
Fishing and tourist activities may be controlled, but the
more remote sources of threats to reefs, notably pollution
and sedimentation from the adjacent land, continue
unabated. Without a more concerted effort to control all of
the impacts of humans on coral reefs even the best
managed marine protected areas may be managed in vain.
The same statistics also point to the important role
which a number of the world's very wealthy nations could
play in protecting the world's coral reefs. Australia,
France, the UK, the USA and even New Zealand hold
jurisdiction or significant influence over coral reefs in
their own waters and in the waters of their overseas
territories and associated states. Together these cover over
one quarter of the world's coral reefs.
There are other stories, however, which provide
valuable examples of success. Fisheries reserves in a few
areas are now revitalizing the food supplies and economies of local villages, while tourist income is paying
for the wise management of a number of important areas.
It is vital that the messages from these sites are carried as
swiftly as possible to all countries and communities who
depend on coral reefs.