International Conventions and Coral Reefs
Conventions and Coral ReefsSeveral multilateral environmental agreements, programmes, partnerships and networks are relevant to the protection and conservation of coral reefs. A brochure produced by UNEP's Coral Reef Unit in collaboration with the WWF Coral Reefs Advocacy Initiative summarized area of work for these various programmes, agreements, partnerships..., how they relate to coral reefs, as well as current and future activities.
Below, you will find information for some of these conventions/programmes as well as some decisions/recommendations on Coral Refs and/or ICRI.
The Ramsar Convention's definition of "wetlands" is intentionally broad, including amongst many other types all "areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres" (art. 1.1), but also explicitly allowing the inclusion of "coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within the wetlands" (art. 2.1). Thus according to the Ramsar Classification System for Wetland Types, coral reefs figure prominently as Number 3 amongst the categories of marine and coastal wetlands. There are 47 Ramsar Sites in which coral reefs (type C) dominate or are significantly present (as of 15 March 2004).
- At the RAMSAR 9th Meeting of the RAMSAR Conference of the Contracting Parties, ICRI posters were displayed at the Japanese booth. The most relevant aspect for ICRI was the adoption of the Resolution IX.4: The Ramsar Convention and conservation, production and sustainable use of fisheries resources, which specifically refers to coral reefs and associated ecosystems in par. 14, 15 & 35. More...
- Fourth Conference on the Parties to the Nairobi Convention (held from the 6-8 July 2004 in Antananarivo, Madagascar). Annex 19 - Decisions of the Fourth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region (Nairobi Convention) - (PDF File - 44 KB) The Decision 4/4 is on protection of coral Reefs, associated ecosystems and endangered species. < /UL>
Decisions on coral reef:
- 22nd Session of the UNEP Governing Council - Nairobi, Kenya, 3-7 February 2003
- 21st Session of the UNEP Governing Council - Nairobi, Kenya, 5-9 February 2001
- 20th Session of the UNEP Governing Council - Nairobi, Kenya, 1-5 February 1999
- Decison 18/33
- Salvat B., Haapkyla J., and M. Schrimm, 2002 - Coral reef protected areas in international instruments. World Heritage Convention, World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Ramsar Convention, CRIOBE-EPHE, Moorea, Polynesie francaise, ISBN : 2-905630-07-8, EAN : 978 290 563 00 70, 210 pages.
