* Report: Nearly half of Caribbean MPAs managed inadequately *
Nearly half (48%) of Caribbean MPAs suffer from inadequate management while the management status of another one-third (33%) is unknown, according to a new publication from the US-based World Resources Institute (WRI). The report, titled "Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean", adds that only 5% of the region's coral reefs are within MPAs with fully or partially adequate management. The authors suggest that management effectiveness be strengthened through capacity-building efforts, funding, and political support from governments, donors, NGOs, and the private sector. Management effectiveness was measured according to four criteria: existence of management activity, existence of a management plan, availability of resources, and extent of enforcement.
The MPA data comprise one section of the report, which provides a regional view of reef degradation based on several factors, including coastal development, sedimentation, and overfishing. The report provides the first regionally consistent, detailed mapping of these threats, and concludes that nearly two-thirds (64%) of Caribbean coral reefs are threatened by human activities. The 80-page report is available online at
http://reefsatrisk.wri.org.
