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The Wildlife Conservation Society's Coral Reef Conservation Program
The Wildlife Conservation Society's Coral Reef Conservation Program, under Dr. Tim McClanahan, conducts conservation-oriented research on both healthy and declining reef systems.
Coral reefs are being degraded worldwide by pollution, sedimentation, global temperature increases and destructive fishing practices.
WCS coral conservation activities include:
- Examining the effects of widespread coral reef bleaching
- Developing strategies to improve coral reef management
- Studying the effects of overfishing on reef ecosystems
- Determining how reefs recover when fishing is prevented in an area
These research activities are being implemented in coral reef ecosystems all over the world, including the Indian Ocean, Asia's "coral triangle" and the Caribbean Sea.
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Coral Reef Preservation
One of the many ways the Wildlife Conservation Society contributes to the protection of marine ecosystems is by supporting research on the value and management of coral reefs at places like the Glovers Reef research lab on the coast of Belize in Central America. At the lab, Dr. Charles Acosta is working to increase our understanding of how coral reefs support so many different species of marine life, and how reefs help to sustain local fisheries.
For more on information and cool photos of Glover's Reef, check out the website!
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The Biology of Corals
Wildlife Conservation Society scientist Dr. Andrew Baker is studying the impact of global warming on reef corals. Concurrent with the rise in ocean temperatures, corals around the world have been bleaching-expelling the algae within their bodies. Does this always lead to coral death? Is global warming the cause? Through field projects in Florida, Japan, Brazil, Bermuda, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Madagascar, Belize, Panama and the Galapagos, Andrew is actively searching for answers to these, and other, critical questions. |
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Creating Reserves
Dr. Chuck Carr conceived of, and helped implement, the Wildlife Conservation Society's marine program in Belize. Active since 1981, this program has secured a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant for a Coastal Zone Management Program. The program also established the boundaries for both the Hol Chan Marine Park and Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, ensuring that critical research on these fragile ecosystems can continue. |
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Managing Our Natural Places
Janet Gibson is a Belizean who has spent most of her career working in marine conservation. She was an active Planner for the Wildlife Conservation Society, completing management plans for two marine protected areas in Belize--Hol Chan and Glover's Reef Marine Reserve. Among her many projects, Janet is also the Director of the Coastal Zone Management Institute, which carries out programs such as coral reef and coastal water quality monitoring, research on manatees, support for marine protected areas, and environmental education. |
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People and Reefs
Dr. Tim McClanahan is the Coordinator of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Coral Reef Conservation Program, conducting conservation oriented research in Kenya, Belize, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Based in Mombasa, Kenya, Tim's work includes the annual monitoring of Kenyan and Belizean reefs, fisheries studies, tourism, coral bleaching, sedimentation effects on reefs, ecological food webs, and the role parks play in species preservation and maintenance of fish stocks. |
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