Overview
The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) is a network of scientists, managers and organisations that monitor the condition of coral reefs throughout the world, aiming to provide the best available scientific information on the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems for their conservation and management. Established in 1995, GCRMN is an implementing arm of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), an informal partnership between Nations and organizations which strives to preserve coral reefs and related ecosystems.
Mission and focus areas
GCRMN has three primary goals, with capacity building as a fourth, overarching priority:
* Goal 1: Improve understanding of coral reef status and trends, globally and regionally. This includes quantifying change in core components, attributing changes to key drivers, and identifying reef recovery processes and social and economic drivers. * Goal 2: Analyse and communicate coral reef biophysical, social and economic trends, providing science-based recommendations in support of raising awareness, management and policy development. * Goal 3: Enable and facilitate greater utilization of coral reef data, including in research, by promoting the exchange of information and contributing to technical innovations. * Goal 4: Build human and technical capacity to collect, analyse and report biophysical and socio-economic data on coral reefs.
Structure and governance
The GCRMN Steering Committee provides global oversight, guides Global and Regional Coordinators, and advocates for GCRMN globally. Task Forces, including a Data Task Force and Socio Economic Task Force, provide specific technical advice.
Programs and offerings
The GCRMN collates and presents coral reef data, aggregating from national to regional levels to a global level. Its flagship product is the Status of Coral Reefs of the World report, which describes global status and trends. The Global Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management (SocMon) is the socioeconomic monitoring arm of GCRMN, working through regional and local partners to facilitate community-based monitoring. SocMon provides training, capacity building, and resources including region-specific guidelines, a comprehensive field research manual, and the SocMon Spatial tool.
