Download measures to protect the red sea coral reefs from tourism and tourist

UNESCO
QUESTION OF: MEASURES TO PROTECT THE RED SEA CORAL
REEFS FROM TOURISM AND TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
Anvi Pingali
Deputy Chair 1
INTRODUCTION
❖Coral reefs- otherwise known as the rainforests of the ocean are considered some
of the most essential marine ecosystems due to the diversity of species they cater to.
❖ The Red Sea reefs are more than 5000 years old, and extend over 2000 km of
shoreline. They consist mainly of fringing reefs
❖ Countries such as Egypt have begun to depend on tourism for a much-needed
revenue to ensure economic development, and the reefs of this area have
become one of the most prominent attractions. Unfortunately, they are extremely
vulnerable to environmental changes and an increase in tourism impacts the
ecosystems negatively.
❖ The issue therefore, revolves around creating a balanced relationship between
the environment and tourism- ensuring the protection of the reefs while also
permitting depending countries the revenue they gain from the tourism in the
area.
MOST COMMON RED SEA
REEF STRUCTURE
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
❖ Anthropogenic: (of environmental pollution and pollutants)
originating in human activity
If anthropogenic pressure in water increases, it has an
impact on the ecosystems living within it.
❖ Salinity: is the measure of all the salts dissolved in water. It
is usually measured in parts per thousand (ppt or ). The
average ocean salinity is 35 ppt and the average river
water salinity is 0.5ppt or less. This means that in every
kilogram (1000 grams) of seawater, 35 grams are salt.
An increase in salt content will also affect organisms
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
❖ Fringing Reef: A fringing reef is one of the three main
types of coral reefs recognized by most coral reef scientists.
It is distinguished from the other two main types
(barrier reefs and atolls) in that it has either an entirely
shallow back reef zone (lagoon) or none at all.
This is the main type of reef found in the Red Sea.
❖ Benthic Community: made up of organisms that live in and
on the bottom of the ocean floor. These organisms are known
as benthos. Benthos include worms, clams, crabs, lobsters,
sponges, and other tiny organisms that live in the bottom
sediments.
TOPIC SUMMARY / OVERVIEW
MAJOR PARTIES INVOLVED
❖ Jordan:
Tourist development is extensive, and approximately 66%
of those visiting Jordan visit the Gulf of Aqaba. Activities
such as the use of anchors and tourist boats as well as
diving have led to the damage of crucial habitats.
❖ Saudi Arabia:
New developments such as recreational cities/centres
have been built without a full evaluation of the
environmental consequences. The effects of construction
such as sedimentation have ensured visible degradation
of the reefs and marine life in the area.
MAJOR PARTIES INVOLVED
❖ Egypt:
Is the largest contributor to tourism in the area. Estimates show that the
coastlines and the Gulf of Aqaba are likely to attract over 1 million
tourists per year. Without the enforcement of protective measures and
environmental regulations, the ecosystems present are likely to succumb
to the damages.
❖ Nations such as Somalia, Yemen and Sudan have also contributed to the
degradation of Red Sea marine life, however not as extensively through
the development of tourism, but through the expansion of industry,
physical alteration, agriculture and a build-up of sewage and solid waste.
Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia also contribute through these factors.
TIMELINE
❖1944- Red Sea Marine Peace Park in the Gulf of Aqaba founded by
governments of Jordan and Israel to help preserve the area’s coral reefs
❖1974- Program for the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
(PERSGA) program launched
❖1982- UNEP established Action Plan for protection of Red Sea and the Gulf
of Aden
❖1982- Regional Convention (Jeddah Convention) protocol established by
PERSGA and funded by member nations
TIMELINE
❖1982- PERSGA member states adopted the Regional Convention for
the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment (Jeddah
Convention) and the Protocol concerning Regional Cooperation in
Combating Pollution by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of
Emergency
❖1983- Ras Mohammed National Park established as an MPA (marine
protected area) to ensure the safety of the fringing reefs
❖1985- PERSGA protocol entered into force
❖2005- Two more protocols adopted1. Concerning protection from land-based activities
2. Concerning protection of marine biodiversity by creating
regional protected areas
UN INVOLVEMENT
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has taken certain
measures to ensure some protection and conservation within the area. The
PERSGA (PERSGA member States including Djibouti, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi
Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen) has been established in collaboration
with the UN, and protocols regarding measures of protection have been set in
place, but there is little or no proof of how extensively they have been carried
out. Also, these protocols deal mainly with the other factors that have caused
environmental harm, and have not been specific to the impact of tourist
development.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
1. Delegates should take into consideration that there
has been no thorough, UN approved investigation to
assess the extent of the situation or damage to the
ecosystems recently, let alone any investigations
assessing the how much of the infliction has been
caused by tourist development. The information/data
at the moment is vague, and without the conduction
of research, the UN cannot know what further steps
to take to ensure the protection of ecosystems in the
area.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
2. After fully comprehending the terms concerning
the protection of marine biodiversity from tourist
expansion in the Jeddah Convention, delegates
could consider the creation of a protocol or reform
to be more specific towards this cause.
3. Lastly, delegates could decide on further, more
specific, environmental measures and action, as a
direct response to any damage to the biodiversity.
This could include the cleaning up or ruling out of
areas that are at risk to the impacts of tourist
expansion.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
❖"Red Sea Coral Reefs." : Types, Characteristics, Biodiversity. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug.
2015. <http://www.coral-reef-info.com/red-sea-coral-reefs.html>.
❖"Coastal Issues- Reef Degradation." N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2015.
<http%3A%2F%2Fcee514coastalanalysisfloridakeys.weebly.com%2Fcoral-reef-
degradation.html>.
❖"Red Sea & Gulf of Aden - PERSGA." UNEP. UN, n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2015.
<http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unep.ch%2Fregionalseas%2Fmain%2Fpersga%2Fredthreat.ht
ml>.
❖Topics In Middle Eastern And African Economies, and Vol. 14 September
2012. Coral Reefs and Tourism in Egypt’s Red Sea (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 13 Aug. 2015
<http://www.luc.edu/orgs/meea/volume14/PDFS/MEEA%202011%20Coral%20reef
s%20and%20tourism%20in%20Egypts%20Red%20Sea%2016%20mai%202011_
3.pdf>