DasErste.de - Weltspiegel - Fidschi (22.11.2009)
Looking back: Fiji
Rescue for coral reefs
Broadcasting and broadcast: SWR, Sunday, 22 November 2009
Worldwide climate change affects ocean temperatures to rise slowly with a devastating collateral damage: The coral reefs die.
The small village Waitabu braced himself as the first community in Fiji against the consequences: The reefs have been designated as nature reserves, tourists and scuba divers may only after an environmental introduction to the corals, fishermen have to make their environmentally friendly fishing techniques.
About 200 villages are now followed the example of Waitabu and have created protected zones - with the hope that a healthy reef can withstand the warming of the seas, at least longer.
They are among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, they feed people, protect coastlines and bring countries such as Fiji lot of money by tourists.
But in a few decades, scientists fear they could be dead. Here below is the work of Helen Sykes. The coral reef expert examined. It establishes the framework regularly at certain points and look to see how the corals developed in the area: It is one of them, noting the colors and the fish stocks. Because they can see how healthy the reefs.Pollution, overfishing, hurricanes and global warming, especially the coral set to already. Quarter of all reefs worldwide is destroyed as - with far-reaching consequences.
"Without coral there is no place where you eat small fish," warns the Meeresökologin Helen Sykes. „"If there are no small fish, the adults lose their food. And without a big fish is nothing left for the people. Coral is the beginning of the food chain of just about everything that lives in and from the sea. "
We're on Fiji's third largest island, Taveuni: a South Seas paradise. Tourism is still a marginal phenomenon, unlike the major tourist regions of the country. People live in small villages without a very traditional washing machines, television - and electricity, there are only a few hours a day from the generator.
The demise of the reefs threatened millions of people as the inhabitants of Waitabu. Apart from their fields to feed the 160 inhabitants, mainly of fish, for they are the most important sources of protein. For now go get dinner with her spear or trap line to the village beach.
Recalls Some ten years ago to Benindito Matana, here they noticed for the first time that something is wrong: They caught fewer fish, and have been getting smaller. While diving, they saw that their reef was broken in several places: They had been fishing too much and in shallow water corals were not spared.
"Some have thrown nets and have walked while in boots over the areas where the fish were. They have killed the corals, "he says.
Shortly thereafter, something happened far more dramatic. Helen Sykes leads us to ruin landscapes, which has caused the weather phenomenon El Nino. Changes in ocean currents warmed the time in some places more than normal. Only temporary.
But enough is: Worldwide came back to the so-called coral bleaching, remained deserted calcium carbonate skeletons.
How could all die off reefs, scientists warn, the sea due to climate change should be permanently warmer. They are dead corals, which were set up on new ones. Fiji's reefs have recovered from the heat wave, partly restored, and proved themselves as more adaptable than others. Helen Sykes believes therefore that the reefs are not yet completely lost.
Globally Fiji is considered very important. If it were possible to stop climate change and reduce the temperature again, then there are places such as Fiji, where the coral species present. And with them we can resurrect other coral reefs that are already dead. "
The village has Waitabu then traded and a 900 meter-long section of reef declared a marine park, which can not be fished. Fish can breed in undisturbed, grow and eat harmful algae that kill other corals.
Against climate change, although they can not do anything, but the villagers asked Helen Sykes, help them to save the reef. Today, they do not trample over coral and conserve fish, which are important for the balance of the reef.
Ogostino APAO manages the Marine Park Waitabu He has undertaken the task of his deceased mother, and interrupted his studies: The importance of reef protection, have understood all here. His mother, Ogostino always said: The fruits of this project are for your future and for your children, not for me.
Ogostino measure the size of a regular fish that are caught around the protected area. The data it sends to the University, which evaluates the recovery process of the reef. But they do not need numbers to see the change.
"The fish we caught today are again larger than they were a few years ago," says Ogostiono APAO pleased.
Under the guidance of tourists allowed into the park, is now part of the best snorkeling areas on the island. Before they are informed about the importance of reefs and coral. With the income school fees for children of poorer families will be paid.
In the evening the inhabitants of Waitabu sit together and drink kava, a traditional root drink. In their project they are proud of - because it became a model for others. About 200 villages in Fiji have become a sanctuary - and the hope that a healthy reef in the warming of the seas, at least longer withstand ...
Autor: Mario Schmidt, ARD Tokio Author: Mario Schmidt, ARD Tokyo
Dieser Text informiert über den Fernsehbeitrag vom 22.11.2009. program from 22.11.2009. Any subsequent changes in the facts are not taken into account.
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