Annual Review 2008-09
Saving the world's coral reefs
The serious challenges threatening the future of the world's coral
reefs are the backbone of major research at Essex.
Bringing together expertise from around the world, the University's Coral
Reef Research Unit (CRRU) is carrying out cutting-edge research which firmly
establishes it as a leading centre for coral reef science.
Dr Dave Smith, Director of the Unit, explained what sets it apart from
other centres is its holistic view and its expertise covering the whole
spectrum of research: from the fundamental biology of corals and
understanding their sensitivity, to environmental stress, right through to
identifying the best ways to engage with and advise governments on methods
to ensure the future sustainability of their reefs.
Research
at Essex will help predict how climate change will affect reef structure and
diversity and help communities adapt to these changes. With many experts
predicting up to 50 per cent reduction of coral reefs in the next 50 years,
the urgency for taking action now is more pressing than ever.
But this is more than just about protecting one of the world's natural
beauties, with more than half a billion people depending on coral reefs for
food and income, providing real solutions to tackling this problem is at the
forefront of the Unit's work.
With research being carried out in the Seychelles (Indian Ocean),
Indonesia (Pacific Ocean) and Brazil (Atlantic Ocean), scientists at Essex
have a pan-global, cohesive view of how environmental stresses and
influences affect coral reefs and the knock-on effect to the fish and the
communities which depend on them.
'It is about identifying how the world's reefs will alter and what that
means to people's livelihoods,' explained Dr Smith.
Rising population, coupled with shrinking coral reefs mean local
communities need other ways of being sustainable both in terms of food and
economics. The challenge for CRRU is to try to embed more sustainable ways
of living off the coral reef, be it establishing new management initiatives,
identifying ways to diversify local incomes or providing solutions for
alternative food sources.
The
CRRU has played a pivotal role in advising governments how they need to plan
for the future and what possible alternatives exist for food security and
livelihoods for indigenous communities. Through such engagement and advice
governments are provided with the best information possible to plan for the
future.
Even so, these aspirations need to be realistic, taking into account the
pressures governments and communities are under and finding the right
balance.
Thankfully, under the expert guidance and support of scientists at Essex,
coral reef communities face a more sustainable future.
Centre of excellence
Part of the Coral Reef Research Unit's bid to make our coral reefs more
sustainable is to help establish coral reef centres of excellence around the
globe.
The first one was opened at the end of last year on the Indonesian island
of Hoga and the aim is for it to be a centre for advice and education on all
aspects of sustainability. It will be a focal point where expertise can be
pulled together and then used to help find solutions in other areas.
Enhancing coral research
This year will see the launch of a £50,000 aquarium facility which will
greatly enhance the quality of research that can be undertaken at the
Colchester Campus. It will be unique to UK research institutions and will
include a series of tanks, the environments of which can be manipulated to
mirror past, present and future climates.