Component 5: Coral Reef Monitoring

This component is designed to increase existing knowledge about the extent and sources of coral reef degradation in three countries (the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica). Building upon ongoing work on coral reef monitoring throughout the region, this component will establish a long-term monitoring program which over time will show the effects of global warming factors (temperature stress, sea level rise, and hurricanes) on coral reefs. Under this component, a subregional forum of specialists from government, NGO, and CARICOM institutions, as well as experts from the scientific community, will identify the methodologies to adjust and extend current monitoring efforts of global warming impacts on Caribbean reefs. The activities will depend heavily on the inventory work of Component (c) above, and will consolidate information from past inventories with that extracted from the current monitoring efforts. In addition, specific activities will be dedicated to public awareness, education, and transfer of technology. Regional meetings will take place to review the monitoring program and to train country specialists from other countries on monitoring methodologies and lessons learned.

Coral Reef Classroom

View the Component 5 powerpoint slide show presented at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, 6th Conference of Parties in the Hague, the Netherlands, November 2000 - click on image for Coral Reef Network slide show. (Nb. Some of the pictures in the slides may take over a minute to load depending on modem capacity).

	Why are coral reefs important? - click on image for Coral Reef Network slide show
	What can food webs teach us about coral reef ecology? - click on image for Coral Reef Network slide show

Events and Documents

The CPACC Component 5 Planning and Technical Review Workshop which was held in Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston, Jamaica between May 21st and 25th, 2001. June 2001.
The Caribbean Observations in a Global Context workshop which was held in Barbados between the 28th of February and the 2nd of March 2001. May 2001.
Download a report on Coral Bleaching, Hurricane Damage, and Benthic Cover on Coral Reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands: A Comparison of Surveys with the Chain Transect Method and Videography prepared by Caroline S. Rogers and Jeff Miller. March 2001.
Download a report on Tracking Changes on a Reef in the US Virgin Islands with Videography and SONAR: A New Approach prepared by Caroline S. Rogers, Jeff Miller and Robert J. Waara. March 2001.
Download the following, including pictures which have been sited within the document: Miller J, Rogers CS (2000) A new approach to tracking change on coral reefs: Using videotape to monitor coral reefs, and Using Aqua Map at a study site. US Geological Survey, Inventory and Monitoring protocol document. March 2001.
Download the Component 5 powerpoint slide show presented at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, 6th Conference of Parties in the Hague, the Netherlands, November 2000. (zipped file size 1.73Mb) December 2000.
Download a list of bibliography sources relevant for Coastal Zone Management in the Caribbean which can be recommended to policy makers, planners and coastal zone managers. December 2000.
Download a list of bibliography sources relevant for Sustainable Management of Coral Reefs in the Caribbean. December 2000.
Download Component 5 Project Update. November 2000.
Download the Midterm Report for Component 5 prepared by Dr. Malcolm Hendry of Halcrow Water in the UK. October 1999.
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Jamaica
A Training Workshop on Protocols for Site Selection, Monitoring and Data Analysis, 7 – 14 March 1999, Clarion Resort, New Providence, The Bahamas. May 1999.
- Download the workshop report in Adobe PDF format
- Download the draft site selection protocol for monitoring coral reefs (in Adobe PDF format) as prepared by Dr. J. D. Woodley of the Centre of Marine Sciences, UWI, Jamaica
- Download the paper on the Video method for Measuring Benthic Cover on Coral Reefs (in Adobe PDF format) as prepared by Mr. J Miller of the USGS Biological Resources Division, US Virgin Islands
- Download the data entry template (in MS Excel format and zipped using Winzip) as prepared by Mr. J Miller of the USGS, Biological Resources Division, US Virgin Islands
- Images of the Training Workshop: Participants and trainers depart for a site selection reconnaissance dive; Jeff Miller guides workshop participants through the data analysis protocol; Dylan Gomez from Belize is interviewed by media consultant Dominique Thompson. Click on images for larger picture.
Download a report on the Technical Workshop for the Implementation of Component 5: Coral Reef Monitoring for Climate Change which was held on March 10-12, 1998 in Belize City, Belize. This document was prepared by Leslie J. Walling, Coastal Resource Management Specialist, CPACC/RPIU. March 2001.
Meeting on the Implementation of Component 5: Coral Reef Monitoring for Climate Change from October 8, 1997, OAS Headquarters, Washington, DC. Download entire report. February 2000

Press Releases

Component Update

Download July - December 2000 Progress Report March 2001.
Download January - June 2001 Operating Plan March 2001.

External Links

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Activities