Transcript Presenter - GEO Coastal Zone Community of Practice

GEO/CZCP Workshop:
Earth Observation Support for Sustainable Tourism in
Small Island States
The Biological Observing System: Capturing
Changes in Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Presenter,
LaVerne E. Ragster, Ph.D.
Professor of Marine Biology
University of 111111 the Virgin Islands
San Juan, Puerto Rico
March 8-11, 2011
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
The Caribbean Context
 Island microstates with typical constraints
 Connected political, cultural, and linguistic
diversity
 Coastal ecosystems linked by ocean
 High biological diversity, high level of endemism
and high level of extinction
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Trunk Bay, St. John USVI
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Benners Bay Lagoon, St. Thomas USVI
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Hurricane Hole, St. John USVI
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Coral Reef Ecosystem
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
The Caribbean Context
 Examples of Biodiversity in the Caribbean:
 630
species of reptiles and amphibians (99% & 93%
endemism)
 560 species of birds (40 genera and 180 species endemic)
 188 endemic flora
 Largest butterfly in Western Hemisphere –giant
swallowtail butterfly (Jamaica)
 11% of world’s coral reefs (600 species of fish and 60
species of coral)
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
The Caribbean Context
 Major economic activities based on natural resources:
 Tourism
 Coastal development projects
 Fisheries
 Agroforestry
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
The Caribbean Context
 Challenges to Biodiversity in the Region:
 Unsustainable exploitation
 Poorly managed tourism (site, capacity issues)
 Pollution (industrial and development practices)
 Mining
 Habitat destruction and conversion (urbanization)
 Natural events (e.g., hurricanes, storms)
 Introduction of alien species
 Global warming, ocean acidification, sea level rise
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Brewers Beach, St. Thomas USVI
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Brewers Bay, St. Thomas USVI
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Coral Bleaching in St. Croix, USVI
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Coastal Development
Emerald Beach, St. Thomas USVICC
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Invasive Species
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Invasive Species
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
3/9/2011
The Biological Observing System:
Research Gaps
Assume further research on all species, habitats and
processes protecting them. Focus on gaps relating to
biodiversity management in context of climate change:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Long term monitoring of changes in coastal and marine
ecosystems
Connectivity between systems in the Insular Caribbean
Modeling of circulation changes in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of
Mexico, South and North Atlantic due to CC
Sea level and sea surface temperature data for all of the insular
Caribbean
Source : CANARI, Climate Change and Biodiveristy in the Insular Caribbean, Working Group Report on Climate Change Impacts
on Coastal and Marine Biodiversity (2008)
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
The Biological Observing System:
Research Gaps (cont’d)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Ocean acidification
Diseases affecting corals, turtles, marine mammals
Invasive species
Algal blooms and plankton
Remediation techniques and ecosystem resilience
Species responses to changes in temperature
Source : CANARI, Climate Change and Biodiveristy in the Insular Caribbean, Working Group Report on Climate Change
Impacts on Coastal and Marine Biodiversity (2008)
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Recommendations and Concerns from the
Intergovernmental Level
 UN Barbados Program of Action 1994 (BPOA) –
addressed sustainable development from a sector
perspective even as it made the case for an
integrated approach to planning and
development
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Recommendations and Concerns from the
Intergovernmental Level
 Mauritius Strategy (MSI, 2004) also included:
 Concern about preparedness for climate change evident
 Linkages between tourism and coastal and marine
biodiversity noted
 Cross sector issues: linking national needs to regional
projects and expenditures; increasing public awareness;
research; stakeholder participation; improved policy and legal
frameworks; improved use of technology; training and
education in sustainable development
 Emerging areas focused on social, economic, and
environmental vulnerability of SIDS
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing
System
Recommendations and Concerns from the
Intergovernmental Level
 Mauritius +5 Review:
 Generally, countries have not produced National Sustainable
Development Plans/Strategies , but there is integration of the
issues in a number of other strategies (poverty, economic
development, strategic development)
 Insufficient capacity and funding to complete MSI goals
 Using more regional data sources (GOOS), organizations
(CCCCC) and projects (UNEP, GEF)
 Insufficient financial assistance to implement MSI goals
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
What Now?
 Some data exists in and on the region, access to it is a challenge
 More is needed with a focus on adaptation to CC and sustainability and




support of management questions arising from the MSI
Partnerships appear to be effective in collecting data and information;
timing, cooperation, communication, follow-through, and leadership
critical
Distribution and dissemination approaches inadequate for public,
governments, and organizations
Regional intergovernmental forums and organizations need to see the
value of GOOS and other research providers – what is the most useful
forum?
Some successful models for creating synergy among different groups to
generate and use data/information available (CANARI, others?)
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Coastal Development
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Magens Bay, USVI
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
3/9/2011
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
Thank you.
GEO/CZCP Workshop: The Biological Observing System
3/9/2011