{"id":20766,"date":"2020-05-18T14:32:14","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T12:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coralguardian.org\/2050-le-defi-de-reconstruction-de-la-vie-marine\/"},"modified":"2021-03-17T12:57:13","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T11:57:13","slug":"the-challenge-of-rebuilding-marine-life-by-2050","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coralguardian.org\/en\/the-challenge-of-rebuilding-marine-life-by-2050\/","title":{"rendered":"The challenge of rebuilding marine life by 2050"},"content":{"rendered":"

A small step for man, a big step for the ocean and its inhabitants<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are facing a key moment where we can choose the legacy of future generations: an irreversibly disturbed ocean or a resilient and dynamic ocean. Policies to reduce environmental pressures and restore marine life were introduced after the 70s, and it is only now that the benefits have become visible on a large scale. Indeed, <\/span>in the past years, there has been an increase of initiatives in favour of the restoration of the ocean<\/b>, such as better management of fisheries and the protection of breeding habitats for marine species. <\/span>These actions led to a lot of positive impacts.<\/b> For example, if we look at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, the proportion of marine species that are threatened with global extinction decreased from 18% in 2000 to 11.4% in 2019. The MPAs (marine protected areas) which for now represent 7.4% of the ocean, are targeting a proportion of 10% of the protected ocean zone for 2020, 30% by 2037 and 50% by 2044.<\/span><\/p>\n

A scientific article published in April 2020 has made the headlines because <\/span>it concludes that a significant reconstruction of marine life by 2050, therefore within 30 years, is possible<\/b>. According to the article, this challenge is achievable if actions to reduce environmental pressures – such as climate change – are deployed on a large scale. Special care should also be taken in preserving habitats and in attempts to restore populations and ecosystems.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the article, <\/span>authors insist that efforts to rebuild marine life cannot aim to restore the ocean as it was in the past<\/b>, <\/span>so we should now move forward and look for new templates.<\/b><\/p>\n

Key actions vary by species and ecosystems :<\/b> for corals, it is climate change mitigation and pollution that are critical, when for the recovery of marine vertebrates and deep-sea habitats it is the management of fisheries and natural habitats that should be prioritized.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 1 :<\/strong> Distribution of ecosystem restoration projects for coral reefs and oysters (Source : Duarte et al., 2020)<\/p>\n

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Figure 2<\/strong> : Reported restoration projects over time (Source : Duarte et al., 2020)<\/p>\n

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We can see in Figures 1 & 2, <\/span>the proliferation of restoration initiatives at a global level prove a desire to act.<\/b> Even if it happens on a small scale, the more we talk about it, <\/span>the more these positive initiatives will multiply and the more they will have a global impact on our oceans.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Focus on coral reefs\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of all the marine species quoted in this article, coral reconstruction carries the highest risk of failure. <\/b>Pressures such as overfishing and pollution have led to their decline and this has now worsened with bleaching events linked to global warming, ocean acidification and an increased cyclonic activity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The recovery of corals, of which <\/span>tens of hectares have been reconstructed so far,<\/b> varies between a few millimeters and a few centimeters per month depending on the species. Coral restoration can therefore <\/span>take a long time depending on the target regions.<\/b>The <\/span>biggest problems<\/b> encountered during the implementation of coral restoration programs are, among others, <\/span>t<\/b>he cessation and severity of ecosystem disturbers. <\/b>This therefore explains the <\/span>high risk factor for this type of project.<\/b> To get an idea, for disturbances related to trawlers or hydrocarbons, recovery times can vary from 30 years to more than a century.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, it has been observed that coral bleaching is now occurring at warmer temperatures than before (about 0.5\u00b0C higher). <\/span>This suggests that the remaining corals have adapted<\/a><\/b> and are somewhat less vulnerable to temperature changes.<\/b> Another good news for corals is the <\/span>growing knowledge<\/b> of how their ecosystem works and <\/span>the many emerging technologies<\/b> of the past decade that aim to restore them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reducing pollution and climate change, improving water quality and establishing protected areas are key actions to promote coral restoration<\/b>. <\/span>It is also important to raise awareness among populations<\/b> that healthy coral reefs are synonymous with a significant abundance of biodiversity, and that they also protect against rising sea levels and storms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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2050, an achievable challenge?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The time it takes to rebuild marine life depends on past problems, which are often significant. Generally, maximum recovery rates for marine populations vary from 2 to 10% per year. Duarte and his team hypothesize that <\/span>to recover 50 to 90% of the many elements of marine life, it would take 30 years<\/b>. They recognize that <\/span>some slow-growing species with severely affected habitats may take longer<\/b>, such as corals. Also, for this recovery of 50 to 90%, <\/span>the major pressures such as climate change have to be mitigated soon<\/b>. This recovery requires financial support estimated at least at <\/span>$10 billion to $20 billion per year<\/b> to expand protection measures and support restoration. Thus, if and only if all these conditions are met, we can envisage a considerable resumption of marine life in the 21st century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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But until then\u2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Failure by governments to meet commitments to reduce environmental pressures could affect the 2050 target, and represent a real threat for the future of the oceans. Despite all the persistent challenges, such as waste and pollutants, or unexpected natural or social events, <\/span>positive initiatives must intensify<\/b>. Emphasis should be placed on <\/span>the preservation and restoration of key species as well as on ecosystems and their functions<\/b>. Improving ocean management is the 14th of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and is shared by politicians in many countries. However, we must not forget that <\/span>this challenge remains achievable only through a collective effort to deeply change our habits<\/b>, <\/span>so that nature can take back its rights.<\/b><\/p>\n

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This article is entirely based on the following study, to find out more : Duarte et al. Rebuilding marine life. Nature 580, 39\u201351 (2020). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41586-020-2146-7<\/span><\/p>\n

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