With up to 95% of the world’s coral reef systems predicted to disappear by the end of this century, there has never been a more urgent need to address climate change.
The Red Sea hosts one of the world's richest coral reef systems, which has evolved over time near the threshold of the physiological temperature limits of corals. Over the past two decades, climate change and other manmade impacts have directly resulted in mass coral bleaching. This not only affects the sustainability of the reef systems themselves, but also threatens local tourism and fishing industries, plus the survival of entire communities that depend on the reefs for living and working.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has joined together with HEPCA and leading travel and tour operator Kuoni Travel Ltd to help address coral bleaching in the Red Sea and introduce practical measures to help limit its impact.
The Climate Change and Coral Reefs project will take the form of a public awareness and education program that will address climate change and marine conservation issues in general with the following aims:
1. Enhancing awareness of Hotel / Resort Managers, Staff, and Guests to Climate Change Impacts and Sustainability issues
2. Develop and integrate an environmental education program into the curriculum of Hurghada and Marsa Alam schools
3. Develop an awareness program and material for dive guides and dive professionals.
Local coral reef management and reef stewardship can really make the difference between life and death. By building the resilience of reefs, coral reef stakeholders can play a major role in helping reefs weather the storm of climate change.
Update: 07/09/09
- Red Sea stakeholders were invited to attend an open symposium on Marine Tourism and Climate Change at the Hurghada Marriott Hotel, 15-16 June 2009. This workshop addressed the vulnerabilities of the tourism sector to climate change impacts and how best to adapt to potential future changes in the coral reef.
- A training workshop for Coral Reef Managers was held at the Hurghada Marriott Hotel, 18-20 June 2009. It was delivered to national park rangers from the Northern Red Sea Islands Protected Area, the Wadi El Gemal Protected Area, and the Elba Protected Area in addition to members of the tourism and the diving industry.
BLEACHWATCH EGYPT Join our coral reef monitoring program. Find out more on our BleachWatch project page and email bleachwatch@hepca.com to register.