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Mapping the Rainforest of the Sea: Global Coral Reef Maps for Global ConservationCoral reefs are the center of marine biodiversity, yet are under threat with an estimated 60% of coral reef habitats considered at risk by the World Resources Institute. The location and extent of coral reefs in the world are the basic information required for resource management and as a baseline for monitoring change. A NASA sponsored partnership between remote sensing scientists, international agencies and NGOs, has developed a new generation of global reef maps based on data collected by satellites. The effort, dubbed the Millennium Coral Reef Map aims to develop new methods for wide distribution of voluminous satellite data of use to the conservation and management communities. We discuss the tradeoffs between remote sensing data sources, mapping objectives, and the needs for conservation and resource management. SeaWiFS data were used to produce a composite global shallow bathymetry map at 1 km resolution. Landsat 7/ETM+ data acquisition plans were modified to collect global reefs and new operational methods were designed to generate the firstever global coral reef geomorphology map. We discuss the challenges encountered to build these databases and in implementing the geospatial data distribution strategies. Conservation applications include a new assessment of the distribution of the world s marine protected areas (UNEPWCMC), improved spatial resolution in the Reefs at Risk analysis for the Caribbean (WRI), and a global basemap for the Census of Marine Life's OBIS database. The Millennium Coral Reef map and digital image archive will pay significant dividends for local and regional conservation projects around the globe. Complete details of the project are available at http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/reefs.
Document ID
20080026034
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Robinson, Julie A.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
May 23, 2006
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2006 Spring Lecture Series at Brookfield Zoo
Location: Brookfield, IL
Country: United States
Start Date: May 23, 2006
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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