Chapter 12
DATA SYNTHESIS FOR COASTAL AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM
MANAGEMENT AT REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALES
JULIE A. ROBINSON
1 , SERGE ANDRÉFOUËT
2 AND LAURETTA BURKE
3
1
Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA
Parkway, Mail Code SA15, Houston, TX 77058, USA
2
UR Coreus, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa
cedex, New Caledonia
3
Information Program, World Resources Institute, 10 G Street, NE, Washington, DC
20002, USA
1. Introduction: The Need for Synthesis Information in Management
Coastal habitats have been subjected to dramatic changes as land is converted to
agricultural, urban and industrial uses. Key coastal habitats, including mangroves,
wetlands, seagrasses, and coral reefs, are rapidly disappearing. An estimated 50% of the
global original mangrove area is believed to have been lost in the last 50 years
(Kelleher et al., 1995) and some reports suggest losses as high as 85% in several
regions (Burke et al., 2000). Other types of coastal wetlands are more difficult to
quantify. Peat swamps in Southeast Asia have declined by 46 to 100% in various
countries (MacKinnon, 1997), and the loss of coastal wetlands in the United States is
estimated to have been almost 50% by the mid-1970s (Bookman et al., 1999).
Seagrasses worldwide have similarly declined (Short, 1999). Approximately 10% of
the world’s coral reefs have been seriously degraded, with nearly 60% of reef areas
potentially threatened by human activities (Bryant et al., 1998).
Most of the changes in coastal habitats are human-induced, and are a direct result
of rapid human population growth concentrated along coasts (Hinrichsen, 1996).
Although coastal land (within 100 km of a coast) accounts for only 20% of all land area
in the world, 40% of the world’s population lives in these areas (Burke et al., 2000).
Uplands and coasts are ecologically linked so that changes in uplands affect the coastal
habitats, and loss of coastal habitats endangers uplands (Kennish, 2000). Both
retrospective and predictive studies of coastal change are required to anticipate habitat
degradation and determine management strategies to mitigate the problems (DahdouhGuebas, 2002).
Modification of coastal habitats is varied in terms of ecosystem and impact.
Commonly modification has economic ramifications, and can affect both fisheries and
the human populations that depend on them (Lindén, 1990). Other economic impacts
arise from the increased vulnerability to flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise
(Nicholls et al., 1999). Key habitats such as coral reefs, seagrasses and mangroves are
each uniquely impacted by coastal modification. Major human-induced threats to coral
reef habitats include urban and industrial coastal development, destructive fishing
practices, overexploitation of marine resources, marine pollution, and sedimentation
resulting from deforestation, mining and agricultural activities (Hodgson, 1999).
Seagrasses can be lost as a result of coastal development which thin increases shoreline
erosion, water column turbidity and degraded water quality (Bookman et al., 1999).
Mangrove habitats are important in the reproduction of many marine species and
279
and Management Applications, 279-305.
© 2006 Springer. Printed in the Netherlands.
L.L. Richardson and E.F. LeDrew (eds.), Remote Sensing of Aquatic Coastal Ecosystem Processes: Science
DATA SYNTHESIS FOR COASTAL AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM
MANAGEMENT AT REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALES
JULIE A. ROBINSON
1 , SERGE ANDRÉFOUËT
2 AND LAURETTA BURKE
3
1
Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA
Parkway, Mail Code SA15, Houston, TX 77058, USA
2
UR Coreus, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa
cedex, New Caledonia
3
Information Program, World Resources Institute, 10 G Street, NE, Washington, DC
20002, USA
1. Introduction: The Need for Synthesis Information in Management
Coastal habitats have been subjected to dramatic changes as land is converted to
agricultural, urban and industrial uses. Key coastal habitats, including mangroves,
wetlands, seagrasses, and coral reefs, are rapidly disappearing. An estimated 50% of the
global original mangrove area is believed to have been lost in the last 50 years
(Kelleher et al., 1995) and some reports suggest losses as high as 85% in several
regions (Burke et al., 2000). Other types of coastal wetlands are more difficult to
quantify. Peat swamps in Southeast Asia have declined by 46 to 100% in various
countries (MacKinnon, 1997), and the loss of coastal wetlands in the United States is
estimated to have been almost 50% by the mid-1970s (Bookman et al., 1999).
Seagrasses worldwide have similarly declined (Short, 1999). Approximately 10% of
the world’s coral reefs have been seriously degraded, with nearly 60% of reef areas
potentially threatened by human activities (Bryant et al., 1998).
Most of the changes in coastal habitats are human-induced, and are a direct result
of rapid human population growth concentrated along coasts (Hinrichsen, 1996).
Although coastal land (within 100 km of a coast) accounts for only 20% of all land area
in the world, 40% of the world’s population lives in these areas (Burke et al., 2000).
Uplands and coasts are ecologically linked so that changes in uplands affect the coastal
habitats, and loss of coastal habitats endangers uplands (Kennish, 2000). Both
retrospective and predictive studies of coastal change are required to anticipate habitat
degradation and determine management strategies to mitigate the problems (DahdouhGuebas, 2002).
Modification of coastal habitats is varied in terms of ecosystem and impact.
Commonly modification has economic ramifications, and can affect both fisheries and
the human populations that depend on them (Lindén, 1990). Other economic impacts
arise from the increased vulnerability to flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise
(Nicholls et al., 1999). Key habitats such as coral reefs, seagrasses and mangroves are
each uniquely impacted by coastal modification. Major human-induced threats to coral
reef habitats include urban and industrial coastal development, destructive fishing
practices, overexploitation of marine resources, marine pollution, and sedimentation
resulting from deforestation, mining and agricultural activities (Hodgson, 1999).
Seagrasses can be lost as a result of coastal development which thin increases shoreline
erosion, water column turbidity and degraded water quality (Bookman et al., 1999).
Mangrove habitats are important in the reproduction of many marine species and
279
and Management Applications, 279-305.
© 2006 Springer. Printed in the Netherlands.
L.L. Richardson and E.F. LeDrew (eds.), Remote Sensing of Aquatic Coastal Ecosystem Processes: Science