By Prensa Latina,
Nadi, Fiji : Coral reefs, so often associated with the world’s most desirable travel destinations, are also key to food security and the economic well-being of developing countries, asserts a marine scientist who dedicates his life to regenerating coral.
Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby, senior scientist for aid non-government organization Counterpart International, said pollution, climate change and over-fishing by locals and tourists have caused widespread degradation of the coral reefs, one of the world’s richest sources of biodiversity, all of which is well known.
But the much-awarded scientist who launched Counterpart’s Coral Gardens – Living Reefs initiative said what is less known is the effect of dying coral on the health and livelihoods of coastal communities.
Featured on the BBC TV documentary, “The Coral Gardener” which started airing this month, Bowden-Kerby highlights the vital connections between Coral Gardens, biodiversity conservation, food security and wealth creation.
Tourists flock to places like the Pacific and the Caribbean to witness the multitude of exotic sea life that resides in these underwater habitats, and Bowden-Kerby reminds us “between 20 to 30 percent of all species of the planet are found on the coral reef. They represent a treasure house of medicines for biodiversity.”
For more than 30 years, Bowden-Kerby has studied coral reefs and their effects on local habitats and economies. He adds that in addition to providing quality snorkeling and fishing, popular activities for resort guests, corals are the beach makers.
“A typical reef produces between one and three tons of sand per mile, per day, if it’s healthy.” However, he cautions, “If the reefs die in a particular region and the beaches start to erode, it can undermine the entire tourism industry.”
Beyond the health of the tourism industry, Bowden-Kerby points to other forms of life dependent on healthy reefs: “Corals build the reef and provide homes for these fish. (Likewise,) fish are essential for the health of corals because they clean the seaweeds and dust off the corals with their tails – communities rely on those fish and lobsters and conch and clams, that’s their food source and that’s their income.
Though coral degradation can seem an insurmountable problem, Bowden-Kerby, by combining his scientific training with listening to local community elders, has adapted indigenous knowledge to develop simple restoration methods which simultaneously benefit the tourism industry and the local fishermen.
Through his research and implementation of the Coral Gardens – Living Reefs Initiative, Bowden-Kerby has empowered communities to successfully replenish degraded reefs in the South Pacific and the Caribbean.
“The secret is to set aside 25 percent of the reef and let that be the nursery for all the species of fish, lobster and so forth.” Designating one fourth of the reef to regenerate coral “will produce up to 10 times the resources typically of an unmanaged reef system.”
Bowden-Kerby stresses the importance of involving the locals as well as visitors in the restoration efforts because he recognizes “increased levels of involvement within the marine environment brings greater satisfaction to the guests – and increased business for resorts.”
Bowden-Kerby believes by helping to restore balance to the reef, hope will be given to those suffering under this danger in paradise.