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NE X T STEP S

10

Filling the Gaps

benchmark, target and red flag) values will also be

refined as further collaborators provide more data.

Our ability to conserve ecological and social well-

We encourage all researchers and data managers to

being depends in part on our understanding and

register their datasets on the Healthy Reefs website

use of critical indicator data. This guide provides

and provide us with input for the design and operating

a comprehensive overview of the key attributes of

procedures for the planned Healthy Reefs online

reef health, but much work remains to fill data gaps,

database.

standardize information, and share it all in a publicly

available and user-friendly clearinghouse.

Reporting on the Health of the Reef

The Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative focuses

The Healthy Reefs Initiative is assisting with the State

primarily on enabling the use of existing information. In

of the Reef reporting process, which will officially

the course of that undertaking, we have encountered a

convey eco-health information to the general public

number of important data gaps. Here we highlight the

and decision-makers. In July 2006, the heads of

major gaps (by theme) that need to be filled through

state of the four MAR countries signed a Declaration

additional data-collection (Table 10.a).

of Renewed Commitment to the Tulum Declaration

and called for the development of triennial State of

The Healthy Reefs Initiative has teamed up with several

the Reef reports5. The Healthy Reefs Initiative was an

research institutions to begin filling some of these

early proponent of a periodic State of the Reef report

gaps. We seek the input and assistance of research

for the MAR.

institutions, government agencies, donors and others

We will also publish a series of science-based reef

interested in collaborating in this expanding effort.

report cards for the general public. These brief,

We also need to improve our interpretation of the

straightforward reports will explain recent results for a

key indicators of reef health and social well-being.

small set of core reef-health indexes that cover issues

One important task is identifying the most significant

such as coral health, fisheries and water quality, plus

indicators of overall health through a quantitative

human communities, economies and governance.

meta-analysis of regional data. Reference (i.e.,

Table 10.a. Major Data Gaps at a Glance (see individual indicator profiles for details).

Ecosystem Structure

Ecosystem Function

Drivers of Change

Social Well-being

Environmental risks to

Updated land cover by crop

Status of regional coral

Regionally representative

human health

type

recruitment patterns

data on reef community

structure and diversity

Cultural perceptions on the

Updated agricultural input

Coral growth rates, trends

value of reefs

rates by watershed and by

and impacts of disturbances

Regional analysis of areal

crop

extent of major habitats

Economic dependence on

Bioerosion on coral over at

(historical and current)

reef resources

GIS layers of coastal-

regional scales

development habitat alteration

Regionally comparable

In-migration statistics for

Herbivory rates inside and

status of focal (threatened)

region

Database of tourism

outside no-take reserves

species

businesses and practices for

Regionally comparable

each sector

MPA management

effectiveness studies

Ecological impacts of fishing

(by studying no-take zones)

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