p r o g r a m m e s

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GCRMN
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

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2. Geographical range.....Global: ocean

3. Objectives
Coral reefs around the world are being damaged and destroyed at an increasing rate. There is a need to assess how, where and why damage is occurring and determine the best methods for prevention. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) was established to tackle these problems and to provide valid management data.

When the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) was launched at the United Nations Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in Barbados in 1994, there was renewed emphasis on monitoring coral reefs. In 1995 ICRI called on many nations to commit themselves towards increasing research and monitoring of reefs to provide data for effective management.

IOC, UNEP, WMO and IUCN are co-sponsors of the GCRMN, which is hosted jointly by AIMS (Australian Institute of Marine Science) and ICLARM (International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management). These bodies, along with the ICRI Secretariat, form the GCRMN Management Group. Advice is provided by a widely representative Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (GCRMN-STAC).

The core objectives are:

• To link existing organizations and people to monitor biophysical and social, cultural and economic aspects of coral reefs within interacting regional networks.
• To strengthen the existing capacity to examine reefs by providing a consistent monitoring programme, that will identify trends in coral reefs and discriminate between natural, anthropogenic, and climatic changes.
• To disseminate results at local, regional, and global levels by providing annual reports on coral reef status and trends so as to assist environmental management agencies implement sustainable use and conservation of reefs. Data will also aid preparation of predictive global climate change models for the GOOS Coastal Zone Module.

4. Programme
The GCRMN is operated through fifteen independent networks, or sub-nodes, in six regions around the world. These networks will contain many different groups of people, all collaborating to monitor coral reefs and share data.

The regions are:

• Western Indian Ocean Islands and East African States
• Middle East Gulfs (those countries bordering the Red Sea around to the Persian/Arabian Gulf)
• South Asia (India, Sri Lanka and The Maldives)
• East Asian Seas (from Burma/Myanmar and Japan to Indonesia/Philippines
• Pacific Island States
• Caribbean and Intra-Americas (including countries with reefs bordering the Atlantic Ocean)

The GCRMN puts emphasis on the involvement of local communities. Wherever possible, the GCRMN uses existing organizations and networks, integrates existing monitoring programmes, and maintains flexibility to incorporate different methods of monitoring other than the standard methodology.

A range of reef types will be monitored along line transects, assessing easily recognizable lifeforms and total fish counts, with specific counts of 'target' fish of commercial or recreational value.

Two special monitoring projects will be supported by the GCRMN:

• a pilot programme undertaken simultaneously by research institutes around the world to give a snapshot of reef status; and
• the development of a tourist monitoring programme coordinated through tourist operators.

5. Data management
Monitoring data will be accumulated in each sub-node for distribution within the region and to ReefBase (ICLARM, Manila). This data will be combined, by the GCRMN Coordinator, into annual global reef status summaries and disseminated to international forums, organizations and the media. For enquiries about ReefBase, please contact:

Dr John McManus, ReefBase Project Leader
International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management,
MCPO Box 2631
0718 MAKATI, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: +63-2-818-0466 or +63-2-817-5255
Fax: +63-2-816-3183
E-mail: j.mcmanus@cgnet.com

6. Coordinative relations
GCRMN is co-sponsored by IOC, UNEP, WMO and IUCN, and hosted jointly by AIMS and ICLARM. GCRMNÕs monitoring work in each region is supported by various kinds of existing organizations, networks and existing monitoring programmes.

Sources
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/gcrmn/gcrmn.html

Contact
Dr Clive Wilkinson Coordinator
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
c/o Australian Institute of Marine Science
PMB No.3, Townsville MC 4810, Australia
Tel.: +61-77-534-372 or +61-77-724-314
Fax: +61-77-722-808 or +61-77-725-852
E-mail: c.wilkinson@aims.gov.au
www: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/gcrmn/gcrmn.html