Organization:Reef Check
 | |
| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Gregor Hodgson[1] |
| Focus | Coral reefs |
| Location |
|
Area served | Global |
| Method | Scientific research |
Revenue | Grants and donations |
| Website | reefcheck.org |
Reef Check is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of two reef ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California n rocky reefs. The Foundation is headquartered in Los Angeles , California , United States , but uses data from volunteer scuba diver teams in over 80 countries, ranging from Australia , Japan , to even Germany . It is the United Nations ’ official coral reef monitoring program.[2][3][4]
History
Reef Check first conducted a global survey of coral reef health in 1997. The data confirmed that coral reefs were in crisis due to overfishing, pollution and other human impacts.[5] The published results in 1999 unsettled the coral biologist community, as the extent of impacts were not realized.
"The Global Coral Reef Crisis: Trends and Solutions (1997-2001)", a five-year report on coral reefs, was released in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa .[6] The report used data collected by thousands of volunteers worldwide, and was the first scientific document detailing the decline in coral reef health over a five-year period.
In 2005, Reef Check launched its first temperate reef program in California.[7]
In 2006, Reef Check conducted 746 reef surveys, ranging from Indo-Pacific areas, the Red Sea and Caribbean Sea.[8]
In 2008, in a presentation made at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Reef Check Executive Director Gregor Hodgson announced that coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region have largely recovered from the devastating bleaching event that killed up to 90% of corals on some reefs in 1998. He reported that 10 years later, recovery has occurred more quickly and more completely than expected. Caribbean reefs, however, are losing about 3% living coral every four years due to a combination of human impacts.
Mission and goals
Reef Check endeavors to create partnerships among communities, government agencies, businesses, universities and other non-profits. Reef Check's mission is "to protect and rehabilitate reefs worldwide".
Reef Check's goals are:[9]
- to educate the public about the value of reef ecosystems and the current crisis affecting marine life
- to create a global network of volunteer teams trained in Reef Check's scientific methods who regularly monitor and report on reef health
- to facilitate collaboration that produces ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions
- to stimulate local community action to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide
Monitoring methods
Reef Check volunteer divers are trained to study a designated site annually or sometimes quarterly. Underwater surveyors focus chiefly on sessile invertebrates (benthos), along a 100-meter (330 ft) transect line.[10][11][12]
Four spatial replicates (spanning 20 m (66 ft)) are studied with three 5 m (16 ft) gaps between. The survey is sub-divided to allow paired divers to separately observe substrate, photograph macroinvertebrates and impacts, record video, and count fishes. A site-specific description is also documented.
Programs
Reef Check carries out its work through three major programs:[9]
- EcoAction Program – an education and certification program for kids and adults who want to learn more about the ocean and take part in protecting reef ecosystems.
- Coral Reef Management Program – a coral reef monitoring and management system that focuses on establishing Marine Protected Areas to conserve coral reefs while encouraging sustainable use of surrounding reefs by local residents.
- Reef Check California – a volunteer monitoring program for California rocky reefs designed to provide data for managers and to build a conservation constituency among California divers.[7]
See also
- Organization:Project AWARE – Marine conservation non-profit organization for recreational divers
- Organization:Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) – Non-profit, environmental NGO
- Organization:Reef Life Survey – Marine life monitoring programme based in Hobart, Tasmania
- Organization:Rubicon Foundation – Non-profit organization for promoting research and information access for underwater diving
- Shifting baseline – Type of change to how a system is measured
- Citizen science – Scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur or nonprofessional scientists
- Social:Ecotourism – Tourism visiting environments
References
- ↑ "International Year of the Reef 2008". Iyor.org. 2007-08-17. http://www.iyor.org/focalpoints/orgs/reefcheck/default.asp.
- ↑ Reef Check Australia. "Reef Check Worldwide". http://www.reefcheckaustralia.org/about/reef-check-worldwide/index.cfm.
- ↑ Greg Stolz (2008-04-04). "More checks as coral suffers". The Courier-Mail. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23485856-3102,00.html.
- ↑ United Nations. "International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)". http://webapps01.un.org/dsd/partnerships/public/partnerships/129.html.
- ↑ Hodgson, G. (1999). "A Global Assessment of Human Effects on Coral Reefs". Marine Pollution Bulletin 38 (5): 345–355. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(99)00002-8. http://reefcheck.org/about_RC_Reef/publications/mpb.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ↑ "The Global Coral Reef Crisis: Trends and Solutions (1997-2001)". Reef Check Report. 2002. http://www.reefcheck.org/about_RC_Reef/publications/Reef%20Check%20Report.pdf/Reef%20Check%205%20Year%20Report.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wehrenberg, ML; Freiwald, J (2012). "Reef Check California: Applied Ecosystem Monitoring as a Training Tool for AAUS Programs". In: Steller D, Lobel L, Eds. Diving for Science 2012. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 31st Symposium. Dauphin Island, AL. http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/10298. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
- ↑ Reef Check (2006). "Reef Check 2006 Annual Report". 2006 Annual Report. http://reefcheck.org/PDFs/2006annualreport.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Reef Check. "About Reef Check". http://reefcheck.org/about_RC_Reef/about_us.php.
- ↑ Shuman CS (2007). "Reef Check California Monitoring Protocol 2007". Reef Check California Protocol-2007. http://reefcheck.org/PDFs/2007_RC_CA_Protocol.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ↑ Reef Check. "Monitoring Instruction". http://reefcheck.org/ecoaction/Monitoring_Instruction.php.
- ↑ Reef Check. "Long Term Monitoring". http://reefcheck.org/conservation/long_term_monitoring.php.
Further reading
- Joyce, K.E., Phinn, SR, Roelfsema, CM, Neil, DT and WC Dennison. 2004. Combining Landsat ETM plus and Reef Check classifications for mapping coral reefs: A critical assessment from the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Journal of Coral Reefs. Vol 23, Issue 1. pp 21–25. Springer Publ, New York, NY.
External links
- Official Website
- Reef Check Australia (Australian counterpart)
- Reef Check Dominican Republic (Dominican Republic counterpart)
- Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)
- International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
- International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
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