Reefs in peril: understanding the plight of the world’s coastal treasures

Coral and rocky reefs around the world are biological treasures, full of beauty and wonder yet the stress of living with humanity continues to increase. Thanks to climate change, coastal developments to over-fishing the reefs are suffering. Global efforts to maintain reef health are tempered by the rapidly growing coastal populations.

This seminar will explore the realities of conservation efforts for these fragile ecosystems across the world. In particular the seminar will address the key issues concerning the utility of biodiversity comparisons, making marine reserves effective, expectations of fish community structure and the complex interplay of human populations and fish exploitation.

Is there a place for reefs in the future world characterized by being three degrees warmer, limited by a 6th mass extinction and nine billion people is a critical question to a society that is highly dependent on marine resources.

About Stuart Kininmonth
Stuart Kininmonth is a research fellow at Stockholm Resilience Centre with interests in marine conservation and network theory approaches to socio-ecological systems.

His career has spanned positions with Greening Australia, Victorian Department of Natural Resources Environment, Kakadu National Park, CSIRO, Australian Institute of Marine Science, James Cook University, University of Tasmania and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

His PhD focused on network theory in coral reef ecology with the University of Queensland. Stuart's personal drive is based on finding mechanisms to enhance conservation in both the marine and terrestrial environments.