Science News - October 27, 2004

Protecting the developing world’s coral reefs

In an attempt to bring the “best science to bear… on issues related to coral reef vulnerability and resilience,” the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) announced in October that they are collaborating to protect coral reefs in the developing world. “The deterioration of coral reefs is a serious threat to the environmental and economic security of many coastal nations,” according to a World Bank statement, which points out that 93 of the 109 countries with significant coral reef communities have suffered damage to these fragile resources. The GEF has granted $11 million for the Global Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management Project, which will be implemented by the World Bank. The project will focus on pairing countries in the developing world with significant coral reef resources—including Mexico, Tanzania, and the Philippines—with existing centers of excellence in Australia. The aim is to create new regional hubs for training scientists in cutting-edge techniques and applying the findings in practical ways, according to the World Bank. The organizations also hope to raise $11.3 million in matching funds for the 5-year project, which they expect is to be the first phase of a 15-year program. For more information, go to www.gefcoral.org.