Having just returned from my annual pilgrimage to the International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting, I’m taking a moment to reflect on 2019. ICRI is a global gathering of experts on coral reef science, management and conservation and, this year, I heard many stories of hope. In Japan and the Maldives baby corals have been recorded growing on reefs after devastating coral bleaching events left them almost 90% dead. This is a promising sign of recovery. Some reefs in Australia have been seen to survive temperatures which previously left them severely bleached; is this a sign of increasing resilience?
This year, ICRI received a record breaking 10 new expressions of interest for membership. Five were from governments; an indication of them wanting to get more involved in protecting coral reefs around the world. Two were from Foundations; a reflection of how the profit-making community is starting to understand that without investing in and protecting our natural world there will be no profit.
This year’s meeting also reported on a renewed strength of collaboration around the world. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network has been on life support since Clive Wilkinson gave us the last snapshot of the health of our coral reefs around the world in 2008. This network of coral reef scientists is now on track to release the next global status mid-2020. This is an incredible achievement and will be invaluable to communications and management strategies for coral reef conservation.
Things are ramping up, change is coming.
2020 is set to be a super year for oceans sporting an unprecedented number of important ocean conferences, coral symposiums, meetings of the parties leading major coral reef international policies. Probably the most critical of them all is the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties where political leaders around the world will gather and decide upon the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Within ICRI, there’s a team of us working hard to encourage governments to remember coral reefs within this agenda and to tag on meaningful targets and calls to action within this. Strategy is vital. With so much biological resource at stake right now, coral reefs could easily drop off the wish list. This is where ICRI has so much value; there are so many of members standing across all elements of the global coral reef fan club and with so many touch points for governments. If we all speak with consistent rhetoric to decision makers around the world, a positive outcome is more likely.
Jula, Mel, Sam, Chloe and K from Reef-World with the UN Environment Programme’s Natalie Harms at ADEX 2019.
Within Reef-World, we have also been undergoing our own forms of building resilience. With two new pivotal staff members joining us and four new countries taking official steps to launch Green Fins (Antigua and Barbuda, Egypt, Japan and Timor Leste). In response to a growing demand for access to our knowledge on sustainable diving tourism we are strengthening our ability to build capacity for, communicate on and digitalise information on the Green Fins approach.
In the past four months alone Sam, JJ and I have introduced Green Fins in Egypt, scoped out plans for Japan and Timor Leste, launched the development of a nation-wide youth coral reef conservation programme in the Dominican Republic, bolstered support for Green Fins with on-site support in the Maldives, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as driving the sustainability message within the US diving travel markets at the DEMA show. Beyond our work with governments and the diving industry on the ground in all these countries, we have further established partnerships with industry leaders which are providing truly meaningful impact for marine conservation.
Chloe and Mel on a scoping trip to Okinawa, planning the launch of Green Fins Japan
2020 looks to be a super year for Reef-World too, with two new countries confirmed to join the Green Fins network and at least two new staff members set to join our growing dream team. Our reach and impact will skyrocket. Around us, messages shout through from leaders of change, from the stinging words of Greta to the increasingly desperate and somewhat out-of-character messages of David Attenborough. We can see the earth’s natural world changing around us and we know the time to act is now.
The Green Fins initiative is currently active in 11 countries - and counting!
Reef-World stands on the shoulders of giants; those organisations who have trusted us and are helping to shape the future of our sustainable diving industry. The UN Environment Programme continues to stand by our side as partners on the Green Fins initiative. Diving and travel related businesses are jostling to support our work and benefit from our expertise in making their industry more sustainable (we are currently enjoying symbiotic partnerships with PADI, Explorer Ventures, ZuBlu, Divebooker, Fourth Element, Caudalie, Blue O Two, World Nomads and The Footprints Network, Paralenz, EXO Foundation). The governments entities, conservation organisations and dive operators who are flying the Green Fins flag in each of the 11 active countries are providing the rocket strength fuel to this engine of industry change. Thanks to these partnerships, we are now able to respond like never before to the needs of our marine life as well as our own increasing desire for travel and adventure.
So, as we take on a new decade, during a time when many of us are feeling deflated by the political systems around us that seem to be failing to deliver what we really need to ensure the ongoing survival of our natural world, here at Reef-World we are full of hope, dreams and aspirations.
We want to say a huge thank you to all of you who have followed, encouraged and supported our work over the past 20 years. Your words of encouragement and personal donations are so appreciated.
Here’s to the end of a decade, a new leaf, a clean slate, new beginnings. And you know what … I’ve got a cheeky feeling this is the decade we’re going to start doing things RIGHT!
Wishing all our partners and supporters a very Merry Christmas - from everyone here at Reef-World!