Fourteen young Filipino marine scientists joined 40 other young researchers from 17 countries in the GEF/World Bank Coral Reef Targeted Research (CRTR) Program’s Future Leaders Forum in Brisbane, Australia from December 10 to 14, 2007.  The forum was aimed at developing “the network of the future leaders in marine and coral reef ecosystem research and management; assist in building capacity to understand global issues impacting on these ecosystems; and develop new knowledge and skills to assist young scientists in their current and future roles.” Leading coral reef scientists mentored the forum and provided lectures and workshops on inspiration, vision, discovery, and leadership.

Participants to the GEF Future Leaders Forum: Dexter dela Cruz (extreme left), runner-up for Best Abstract; Kathryn Rosell (second from right), winner, Best Photo on Coastal Management; and Kareen Vicentuan (second from right, second row), Best Presentation. The others are (front,left to right): Rachel Gotanco, Miahnie Pueblos, Andy Hooten, Ma. Vanessa Baria, Candice Lumibao, Eileen Peñaflor; (back, left to right) Patrick Cabaitan, Mark Vergara, Victor Tizon, Dr. Peter Sale, and Rollan Geronimo.

The Philippine contingent made up 25% of the total number of young researchers. Of the 14 from the country, 13 are from the UP Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), headed by the internationally distinguished UP Professor Emeritus Edgardo Gomez, coordinator of the Philippines/SEA Center of Excellence of the GEF-CRTR Program and one of the lecturers in the forum.  Two of the young scientists from the UPMSI, Kareen Vicentuan and Dexter de la Cruz, won awards for Best Presentation and runner-up for Best Abstract.  Another award went to the sole student from Silliman University, Katryn Rosell, for Best Photo.

One of the highlights of the event was a press briefing on a recent paper on the threats faced by coral reefs worldwide under rapid climate change. The paper was published in the prestigious Science magazine and authored by participants in the forum, including Professor Emeritus Gomez.  The paper paints a dire future for coral reefs worldwide under rapid climate change conditions.  Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can cause oceans to become more acidic, effectively reducing the rate of calcification until it reaches a limit when coral reefs will start to erode due to the limited availability of carbonate ions in seawater.  Local stresses on coral reefs such as overfishing, destructive fishing using dynamite and poisons, sedimentation, and pollution will exacerbate coral reef degradation.  Economies relying heavily on reefs for fisheries and tourism will be greatly affected and millions of people might be displaced due to increased beach erosion as the coastal protection provided by coral reefs decreases, marine experts say. The study used conservative estimates of carbon dioxide increase in the atmosphere.

Half of the world’s reefs are located in the Southeast Asian region. The Philippines is among the top in coral reef biodiversity.  About half of the country’s population live along the coast and obtain their daily protein requirement and livelihood from the sea and reefs.  Yet, the country’s reefs have also been ranked among the most impacted in the world.  Unless local stresses and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, the Philippines faces a less than desirable future for coastal zones and communities.

Working against time, the young Filipino marine scientists in the GEF-CRTR Forum called on all Filipino youth to increase their vigilance and to help in the conservation of coral reefs.  They also called upon local coastal resource managers and the national government to scale up management interventions to preserve one of the country’s most important natural assets. 

A co-author of the Science paper, Dr. Gomez said that although predictions for the future of coral reefs are very alarming, there is still time to act to avert the crisis if governments and ordinary citizens take prompt steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. “We are all ‘future leaders,’” said Dr. Gomez. “It is our privilege and responsibility to do whatever we can to conserve and preserve our coral reefs for the youth of the future.” (Rollan Geronimo, UPMS –GEF CRTR Scholar)