V - Z
type: Concept

WCMC
type: Concept
in scheme: projects
definition: Oceans cover some 71% of the world's surface. They play an essential role in the maintenance of life on the planet and yet are often threatened by human activities. The coastal zones, which include some of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, tidal mudflats, and kelp forests, are particularly important and vulnerable. WCMC's marine programme aims to compile information on these ecosystems and the conservation of the species which they harbour. A number of ongoing projects contribute to the overall programme: Coral Reefs Since the publication, in 1988 of the 3-volume Coral Reefs of the World WCMC has been acclaimed as a centre of expertise in these important ecosystems. In support of ReefBase, a project run by the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) in Manila, WCMC has been developing digital maps of coral reefs of the world. Draft maps have been prepared for all countries and for 45, the reefs have now been mapped at scales of 1:250,000 or better. These maps have been incorporated into the CD of Reefbase, a highly detailed database first released in 1996. These maps are also available on Internet at the following address http://www.wcmc.org.uk/marine/data/. The use of GIS for storing the data has enabled the calculation of global and regional estimates of reef area. Mangrove Atlas In association with the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems and the International Tropical Timber Organization, WCMC has recently completed work on a World Mangrove Atlas, published in 1997. Mangrove Protected Areas In 1993, a survey was undertaken of protected areas with mangrove ecosystems. This resulted in the development of a database of some 1200 protected mangrove sites. Poster Map of Coral Reefs and Mangroves of the World Using mapped coral reef and mangrove data, an educational poster has been published, with support from BHP Ltd. Marine Protected Areas The WCMC Protected…