[Coral-List] algae crowding out corals; =?utf-8?Q?cora=3Dl_?=restoration review
Steve Mussman
sealab at earthlink.net
Mon Nov 13 15:28:54 UTC 2023
“ . . . highlighting that coral restoration is likely to continue to fail even at small scales unless climate change and other anthropogenic impacts are urgently reduced”.
Hi Doug,
I would think that the summary’s concluding statement (above) defines the consensus opinion of the coral science community worldwide. So, in that sense, it is hardly a controversial assertion. In light of that, please help me to understand why a scientific discipline would continue focusing on a practice which the science itself has determined is a failed approach under current environmental conditions.
Further to this point, if the only way coral reef restoration can succeed long-term is for anthropogenic impacts to be reduced and if it is true that science follows the science, one would assume that coral scientists would be all in on the need to reduce stressors first and foremost or, at the very least, the coral science community would be emphasizing unequivocally the limits of restoration without a precipitous reduction in what we know to be the major stressors. Without that disclaimer displayed clearly and upfront it comes across as somewhat of a conspiracy in deception.
Here is where it overlaps with David Obura’s call for action. If coral scientists here are reluctant to speak out on climate change and other major stressors, what are the odds that they are willing to stick their necks out even further and advocate for fundamental shifts in the world’s predominant economic system? This, despite the fact that most everyone can see the connection between the need for socio-economic reforms and the future health and wellbeing of the world’s coral reefs.
Warm regards,
Steve Mussman
Sent from EarthLink Mobile mail
On 11/8/23, 11:25 PM, Douglas Fenner via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
Algae outbreaks around the world are crowding out corals
Already-stressed reefs face a red menace
https://www.science.org/content/article/algal-outbreaks-around-world-are-crowding-out-corals?utm_source=sfmc
Principles for coral reef restoration in the anthropocene
*SUMMARY: Coral reefs are critically important ecosystems that support
coastal societies and economies throughout the tropical oceans. However,
many of the word’s coral reefs are already seriously degraded, especially
by over-fishing, pollution, and anthropogenic climate change. Consequently,
a resurgence of ecological restoration programs is underway in an attempt
to halt or reverse reef degradation and to develop new approaches in
anticipation of further declines in coming decades. Some forms of
rehabilitation of assemblages of corals may be feasible, affordable, and
ethical—using currently available methods and capabilities—for very small
areas (typically 1 km2 ) of high economic value, such as tourist sites.
However, our review of the current and proposed restoration interventions
indicates that more ambitious outcomes remain elusive and may even be
counter-productive. In light of these challenges, we provide
recommendations and a conceptual framework to guide future restoration
projects and emerging approaches, highlighting that coral restoration is
likely to continue to fail even at small scales unless climate change and
other anthropogenic impacts are urgently reduced.*
https://www.cell.com/one-earth/pdf/S2590-3322(23)00189-6.pdf
open-access
Cheers, Doug
--
Douglas Fenner
Lynker Technologies, LLC, Contractor
NOAA Fisheries Service
Pacific Islands Regional Office
Honolulu
and:
Coral Reef Consulting
PO Box 997390
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799-6298 USA
Huge expansion of fossil fuels planned, will be very destructive
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/08/insanity-petrostates-planning-huge-expansion-of-fossil-fuels-says-un-report
"without policy changes, the world will heat up enough by the end of the
century that more than 2 billion people will live in life-threatening hot
climates" Will you be in that area???
https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-sounding-alarm-dangerous-problem-123000792.html
World subsidies for fossil fuels reached an all-time high of over $1
TRILLION in 2022, the last year for which data is available. The subsidies
MUST end.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/fossil-fuel-subsidies-must-end/
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