No Image Available

Omori and Fujiwara, 2004

 Author: Makoto Omori and Shuichi Fujiwara  Category:  Download
 Description:

Coral reefs have been called “tropical forests of the sea”, with high productivity and
biodiversity underpinning their strong economic and social values as sources of food, places
for recreation and with recognition also of their importance as a reservoir of genetic
resources. The protection that reefs provide tropical coastlines is evident during storms and
tsunamis, where reefs dissipate wave energy quickly and efficiently. However, because
environmental conditions affecting reefs in many tropical and subtropical regions has
deteriorated significantly during the past four decades, due to causes such as outbreaks of
the predatory crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), sedimentation by terrestrial
run-off, and destructive fishing by dynamite or poison, conservation of the reef has become
an urgent international issue. Consequently, Japan, USA, Australia and other countries
concerned about coral reefs collaborated to establish, in 1995, the International Coral Reef
Initiative, which Japan has driven forward proactively.
Japan has approximately 96,000 ha of coral reefs, distributed mainly around the Ryukyu
Islands. Since Japan also is one of the few developed countries with significant reef areas,
we have a major role to play in the fields of reef research and conservation to provide a
positive contribution in tropical and subtropical waters. In pursuing such objectives, the
Ministry of the Environment conducted studies on the disturbance and restoration of coral
reefs via the Global Environment Research Fund project during fiscal years 2000 to 2002.
The Ministry actively promoted new research on sedimentation impacts and also the process
of coral settlement and recruitment with regard to the coral transplantation, to obtain
fundamental knowledge of transplantation. In addition to the Ministry’s activities, other
research bodies such as Akajima Marine Science Laboratory and Japan Marine Science and
Technology Center (JAMSTEC) have made efforts, including various investigations and
experiments for the purpose of the coral reef restoration, to significantly advance our
knowledge.
This document has been prepared in recognition of an increasing need for information on
restoration of degraded coral reefs, through means such as transplantation, in order to
provide information that may be helpful for coral reef restoration activities worldwide. It is a
cooperative effort of the Japanese scientists who are playing principal roles in the research,
who have summarized their accomplishments and knowledge for this manual.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have been fully cooperative with us for the
preparation of this document, and desire earnestly that it is utilized widely to be helpful for
the regeneration and restoration of the coral reefs.


 Back
Powered by WordPress Inspiro WordPress Theme by WPZOOM