13 Jun 2007 The Hague,
The Netherlands – Red, pink and other coral
species in the genus Corallium will be better
protected from over-exploitation after delegates
attending a meeting of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES ) adopted a US proposal to list the
genus in Appendix II of the convention.
Appendix II allows trade in a species under
strict conditions.
Red and pink corals and other lesser known
species of Corallium are used mainly for
the manufacture of jewellery and art. They
are found throughout the world’s tropical
and temperate seas and are harvested in
the Mediterranean and Western Pacific.
“This is the best possible decision to
start getting the trade in these corals
under some form of international control,”
said Ernie Cooper, a coral trade expert
from TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring
network.
“Until now most species of Corallium have
been over-harvested as a result of a free-for-all
situation.”
There are no international trade controls
in place, nor any consistent management
plan, TRAFFIC and WWF say. And the life
histories of most Corallium species, such
as late maturation, slow growth and low
fecundity make them particularly vulnerable
to over-exploitation, according to both
organizations.
Corallium populations off parts of the
Italian, French and Spanish coasts are no
longer commercially viable, while in the
Western Pacific they have been depleted
within five years of their discovery and
harvest is shifting to newly discovered
populations.
Corallium products reach high prices on
the market and are traded worldwide. It
is also very difficult to identify which
species of coral is used in the finish products.
“CITES listed all the hard corals in Appendix
II more than a decade ago, and we are pleased
to see the Convention protect these precious
corals as well,” said Dr Susan Lieberman,
Director of WWF’s Global Species Programme.
“Now, consumers of these beautiful items
will be part of the solution, and not part
of the problem.”
Richard Thomas, Communications Coordinator
TRAFFIC International
Joanna Benn, Communications Manager
WWF Global Species Programme
+ More
WWF teams up with national park in Vietnam
to secure marine biodiversity
15 Jun 2007 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam –
WWF and Vietnam’s Con Dao National Park
have announced steps to conserve marine
biodiversity off the country’s south-eastern
coast.
The national park, comprising 20,000ha
of protected areas — 14,000ha at sea and
6,000ha on land — is rich in wildlife, including
dugongs, marine turtles, dolphins and coral
reef, as well as endemic orchid species.
“The Con Dao National Park is globally
significant because of its marine life and
terrestrial habitat,” said park director
Le Xuan Ai.
“We hope to ensure the protection and sustainability
of the park by strengthening local capacity
for biodiversity conservation, and improving
the integration of conservation into development
planning.”
To achieve this, the three-year project
will implement many activities including:
marine protected area management and planning;
monitoring programmes; ecosystem rehabilitation;
education and awareness programmes; alternative
livelihoods initiatives; sustainable tourism
strategies; and the establishment of a sustainable
financing mechanism for biodiversity conservation.
A community advisory group has also been
established to help develop strategies for
linking community development and sustainable
livelihoods into biodiversity conservation.
“It is critical that more attention be
given to the park’s environmental and social
impacts in order to ensure that the spectacular
marine biodiversity at Con Dao is maintained,
that sustainable use is achieved, and that
local communities will benefit from sustainable
economic growth,” said Keith Symington,
WWF Vietnam Marine Programme Coordinator.
“WWF and Con Dao National Park have enjoyed
a strong working relationship and partnership
on conservation and sustainable use for
over ten years. We are very excited to contribute
to this project, since we know very well
the potential for balancing conservation
and economic development at Con Dao.”
END NOTES:
• The project, Coastal and marine biodiversity
conservation and sustainable use in the
Con Dao Islands Region — funded by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and the Danish
International Development Agency (DANIDA)
— is being executed by the Con Dao National
Park, on behalf of the Ba Ria Vung Tau Province,
and implemented by the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP). WWF Vietnam is providing
technical support for the project.
Keith Symington, Marine Programme Coordinator
WWF Greater Mekong – Vietnam Country Programme
