| The Rosario Island Coral Reef System is
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| | there is more effective government
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| one of many marine National Parks in the
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| | intervention and recognition that
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| Caribbean sea, and one of 46 in Colombia.
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| | policies and laws need to be implemented
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| The park covers an area of about 20
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| | and enforced.'
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| hectares of coral reef and 43 different
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| | It recommended further study and mapping
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| islands.
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| | of the region, ongoing long term
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| The reef was formed hundreds of years
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| | monitoring, funding for conservation
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| ago. Volcanic activity deep below the
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| | efforts, and laws to prevent damage by
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| earths surface pushed the seabed up over
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| | tourism and resource extraction. Since
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| time, allowing coral beds to form and
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| | then, international and local efforts
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| marine life to flourish. Today the area
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| | have been made to manage and protect the
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| is home to more than 1,300 species of
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| | marine park through these
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| plants and animals and is a fantastic
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| | recommendations.
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| location for diving, snorkeling and other
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| | In the mid 1980s, the Rosario Islands
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| recreational water activities.
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| | Oceanarium was established. A research
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| In 1977 the area was declared a National
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| | and education centre that hosts
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| Park by the State Ecological Authority,
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| | international events in marine life
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| for the purpose of protection,
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| | research, regularly collects data from
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| preservation and study of this fragile
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| | within the National Park and presents
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| eco system of marine life. But declaring
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| | information to members of the public
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| the site a National Park has not been
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| | about the state of the marine
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| enough to protect the reefs from damage,
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| | environments in Colombia.
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| and today the area still remains under
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| | As well as the Museum of Marine Life, the
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| threat.
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| | Oceanarium features many open water pens
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| After two years of research and data
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| | to display and provide protection for
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| gathering, a report was published in 2002
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| | marine animals such as fish, dolphins and
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| on the Status of Coral Reefs in Southern
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| | sharks. The animals are free to come and
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| Tropical America. The project was a joint
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| | go as they please, but when at the
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| initiative of authorities from Brazil,
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| | oceanarium, they are provided with food
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| Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and
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| | and medical attention. The scientists at
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| Venezuela.
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| | the centre have been able to collect
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| The report stated that 'The coral reefs,
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| | valuable information about the state of
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| have changed radically in the last 35
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| | the animals health as well as closely
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| years, in particular during the 1980's,
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| | monitor their natural environment as a
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| due mostly to anthropogenic stresses
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| | result.
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| compounded by natural disturbances.'
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| | Visitors to the centre not only have the
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| Research shows an alarming decline in the
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| | chance to enjoy an encounter with the
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| coverage of the reef by live coral in the
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| | diverse range of animal and plant species
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| area. Warmer sea temperatures contribute
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| | that live in the National Park, but also
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| to the damage by killing off live coral
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| | the chance to learn about the the threat
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| and exposing the dead, calcified coral
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| | to the park and what efforts are being
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| underneath. This is known as coral
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| | made to protect it.
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| bleaching. Other threats include lower
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| | Unfortunately, despite being one of the
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| fish populations and high incidence of
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| | top five countries in the world with the
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| coral disease and large populations of
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| | most natural diversity, Colombia's
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| sea urchins, who feed on live coral.
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| | efforts to clear international debts and
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| The report blames sewage pollution,
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| | the fight to eradicate armed conflict
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| tourism impact, resource extraction, over
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| | have taken funding priority over helping
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| fishing and coastal development as the
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| | conservation efforts for this and other
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| main causes of damage to the area,
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| | National Parks in the country.
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| compounded by natural problems such as
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| | Research, park management and
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| shifting weather patterns (El Nino),
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| | conservation projects are largely funded
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| hurricanes and runoff from rivers in the
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| | by international conservation aid,
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| region.
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| | private organisations and their sponsors
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| Whilst the larger rivers such as the
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| | and private donations. A small portion
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| Amazon, Orinoco and Magdalena deliver
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| | also comes from eco-tourism projects.
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| nutrients to the sea, they also deposit
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| | Conservation groups are hopeful that as
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| sediment and pollution which can slow
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| | Cartagena's popularity as a great tourist
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| coral growth or kill off existing corals.
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| | destination strengthens, the government
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| Fish and other organisms in the water
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| | will provide more support for the
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| require coral as a food source or to
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| | protection of this valuable natural
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| provide protective habitats from their
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| | wonder. In the meantime, education seems
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| predators, without it, the species could
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| | to be the park's best chance of survival.
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| suffer population loss, and ultimately,
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| | Its up to visitors, local tour operators
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| extinction.
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| | and residents to take responsibility and
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| The report warns that 'the rate of coral
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| | care for the area, to protect it so that
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| reef decline will not be reversed until
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| | future generations can enjoy its beauty.
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