Coral Reefs in Sudanby Razaan Abakar | 05-09-2017 03:45 |
|---|
 Introduction: The Sudanese Red Sea supports an extensive nearcontinuous fringing reef, a complex offshore barrier reef system, and numerous uninhabited islands. While some of the more accessible reefs, such as those in the vicinity of Port Sudan and Sanganeb Atoll, have previously been the subject of research , and others are renowned tourism dive sites , many of the reefs have never previously been surveyed. More recent survey efforts focused on the establishment of two marine parks at Dungonab Bay and Mukawwar Island National Park (DBNP) and Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park (SMNP) improved the understanding about the current status of the reefal communities within these areas. In 2007 a more geographically comprehensive habitat and biodiversity baseline survey was carried out on some of the un-surveyed reefs in the Sudanese Red Sea. The survey was part of the first phase of a larger programme which aims to link poverty alleviation and the protection of the environment of the Sudanese Red Sea through the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). The ICZM programme, led by Equipe Cousteau, and is part funded by the European Commission in cooperation with a consortium of partners including the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR) of the Red Sea State of Sudan, UNESCO, and PERSGA (The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden). This paper presents the preliminary results from the baseline survey that will be used to assist the Government of Sudan to manage the anticipated developments in the coastal region. Source: Ecological patterns and status of the reefs of Sudan: R. Klaus1, J. Kemp1, M. Samoilys1,2, H. Anlauf1, S. El Din3, E.O. Abdalla3, T. Chekchak1. |
