The Coral Reef Restoration Initiative

By Mike Johnston

In the last 10 years or so there has been an alarming development in the oceans of the world. Coral reefs are dying because of an effect called Coral Bleaching. The main cause that has been identified to date is the warming of the oceans. In 1998 there was a strong el Nino warming event and the result was that up to 90% of the coral reefs in the central Indian Ocean were killed.Click HERE for a large map of worldwide coral bleaching events.

As you see in the map coral bleaching is taking place all over the world. It is estimated that 27% of the world's reefs have already been destroyed. In fact there are many effects happening worldwide and many harbingers of tomorrow that in themselves seem fairly innocuous. For a detailed look at these many current events please click on the map below.

In 2004 the Australian government sponsored a study to determine the current state of coral reefs around the world. I reccomend reading this report. " The report recognises that the major stresses to coral reefs are: natural forces that they have coped with for millions of years; direct human pressures, including sediment and nutrient pollution from the land, over-exploitation and damaging fishing practices, engineering modification of shorelines; and the global threats of climate change causing coral bleaching, rising sea levels and potentially threatening the ability of corals to form skeletons in more acid waters." From the abstract of the report.

The organization Earth Echo has devised a method of perhaps restoring coral reefs that have been lost to bleaching. They call it the Coral Reef Restoration Initiative (CRRI). Its goal is to establish a genetic bank of corals from around the world. The corals will be maintained in an aquaculture labrotory. As long as the corals can be grown in captivity there will exist a healthy supply of living coral from which to plant corals back into the wild.The expected effect will be the repair of damaged reefs. It will also help to preserve rare, endangered corals so that they do not become extinct.

Article Author: Mike Johnston

Covering mainstream music, the New York City indie rock scene and off-Broadway theater productions. Also articles on science, the ongoing effects of climate change, and alternative energy.

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