FORCE

Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE): An ecosystem approach to managing Caribbean coral reefs in the face of climate change

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE) Project partners a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from Europe and the Caribbean to enhance the scientific basis for managing coral reefs in an era of rapid climate change and unprecedented human pressure on coastal resources. The overall aim is to provide coral reef managers with a toolbox of sustainable management practices that minimise the loss of coral reef health and biodiversity. An ecosystem approach is taken that explicitly links the health of the ecosystem with the livelihoods of dependent communities, and identifies the governance structures needed to implement sustainable development. Project outcomes are reached in four steps. First, a series of experimental, observational and modelling studies are carried out to understand both the ultimate and proximate drivers of reef health and therefore identify the chief causes of reef degradation. Second, the project assembles a toolbox of management measures and extends their scope where new research can significantly improve their efficacy. Examples include the first ‘coral-friendly’ fisheries policies that balance herbivore extraction against the needs of the ecosystem, the incorporation of coral bleaching into marine reserve design, and creation of livelihood enhancement and diversification strategies to reduce fisheries capacity. Third, focus groups and ecological models are used to determine the efficacy of management tools and the governance constraints to their implementation. This step impacts practical reef management by identifying the tools most suited to solving a particular management problem but also benefits high-level policy-makers by highlighting the governance reform needed to implement such tools effectively. Lastly, the exploitation and dissemination of results benefits from continual engagement with practitioners. The project will play an important and measurable role in helping communities adapt to climate change in the Caribbean.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Despite their beauty and biodiversity, coral reefs are fragile ecosystems that are increasingly under threat from human activity and climate change. EU researchers are helping to boost the Caribbean's capacity to preserve and protect its reefs.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The management of coral reefs for the 21st century not only requires an understanding of its natural processes, but also how people interact with these fragile ecosystems. Coral reefs provide important services to fisheries, tourism and coastal defence, which are under threat from extraction, development and climate change.

Caribbean countries, where 43 million people depend upon the reefs for their livelihood, need practical and relevant management measures in order to protect and preserve these ecosystems. Therefore, 20 organisations from 10 countries in the Caribbean along with Australia, Europe and the United States joined forces to develop sustainable management tools.

The EU-funded FORCE (Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE): An ecosystem approach to managing Caribbean coral reefs in the face of climate change) project employed the latest scientific knowledge to develop management practices that minimise damage to reef health and stem the loss of biodiversity. Partners conducted field visits, literature reviews, experimental studies and computer-based modelling, which focused on the causes of reef loss in the Caribbean. It also charted the physical, ecological and governance processes that influence reef health.

FORCE has developed a range of resources for disseminating the project's results, including a coral reef manger's handbook, a web geographic information system and the Reef Health Simulator. Throughout the project's lifetime field research on governance and livelihoods engaged with policymakers, practitioners, stakeholders and the general public.

Research activities culminated in two separate workshops for practitioners and the reef manager's handbook, providing valuable tools and information. The six Caribbean partners also participated in discussions with governments and exchanges with other research and scientific institutes in the region.

The FORCE project will therefore play an important role in helping local communities adapt to climate change in the Caribbean region.