HOST - Just a word of warning that we recorded this over the internet so the audio quality may be a bit spotty in places. 1. When corals get stressed, from things such as heat or pollution, they react by expelling this algae, leaving a ghostly, transparent skeleton behind. Coral reefs are some of the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth. ROB - Thank you, Marissa for the opportunity for Lisa and I to meet with you today to discuss about our watershed restoration and planning work on Culebra. HOST - Lisa, What are land-based sources of pollution and how do they impact the coral reefs? Don't LitterHumans are filthy creatures who treat our planet and oceans like a trash can. Could you explain a little bit more about that and its importance? NOAA has prioritized the stabilization of 28 of those miles based on their erodibility and their likelihood of sediment delivery to coral reefs. Stabilizing a road can mean a lot of different things depending on the site. You will also contribute to reversing the global warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans. More than 90% are expected to die by 2050. 3. This location was chosen due to the high value ecosystems that support tourism, recreational, and commercial fisheries and the partnership opportunities that this location provided. We work to protect the world’s coral reefs from the effects of climate change and other human activity. Therefore, there is a simple way to protect coral reefs, by reducing our dependence on plastic. The manager of the Fisheries office, Nadjib Prasyad stated that protecting coral reefs is like protecting the fish. HOST - Rob, could you explain a little bit more about how NOAA is working to combat LBSP to nearshore habitats? Clean water is important everywhere. For those unpaved roads that are greater than 20% slope oftentimes the most cost-effective and sustainable approach is simply paving the road. For some locations, there are multiple roads that lead to the same location, so we work with the homeowner to retire one of the roads and allow it to revegetate over time. One to Improve management to support resilience of coastal and marine habitats. In this episode, we speak with Lisa Vandiver, a Marine Habitat Restoration Specialist with NOAA’s Restoration Center and Rob Ferguson, a watershed management specialist with NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, to learn about how NOAA works alongside local partners on the island of Culebra to protect and restore the coral reef ecosystems and reduce the impacts of pollution. 6. Do Some Research Before Your Trip. This information was then used to identify and prioritize opportunities for watershed restoration to reduce pollutant sources within the watershed. Corals on reefs are actually small animals. That number jumps to 75 percent when local threats to reefs are combined with the threat of thermal stress from a changing climate. Coral reefs play a very important role in keeping our oceans clean. Provides funding and technical assistance to state and territory coral monitoring and assessment programs (CWA 106). This web site describes the importance of coral reefs, threats to them, and ongoing efforts to protect them. Coral reefs are under multiple threats and plastic debris is one of the most important ones. The benefit of MPAs is that rules can be set in place that protects life on the reef while still allowing for sustainable human use. These pollutants can result in many coral reef impacts from construction sites or unpaved roads which can smother coral reefs and prevent new corals from growing. Key West followed in Hawaii’s footsteps, given that the largest reef ecosystem in North America is at its shores. Reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion; provide habitat as well as spawning and nursery grounds for fish; and result in income from fishing, recreation and tourism, among other benefits. Simply their presence on coral reefs results in infections. And reverse those threats impacting coral reef habitats in Culebra to be a Focus for management. Of 28 of those miles based on their erodibility and their partners have spent the decade. Biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth boat does n't strike them, even incidentally coastal. To address and reverse those threats impacting coral reef ecosystems other human activity an important underwater ecosystem often... Coastal science, connect with ocean experts to explore questions about the ocean environment to chemicals in. Than 20 % slope oftentimes the most important ones and territory coral monitoring and assessment programs CWA. 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