Coral Reefs

The World Bank is a founding member of the International Coral Reef Initiative and has remained actively engaged in development of the ICRI Partnership since its inception in 1995. The Environment Department's Coastal and Marine Resources Team has designed and supports an Electronic Partnership Forum, a tool designed to enhance electronic communication between the Partnership's members.

Since the early 1990s, World Bank projects involving coral reefs and associated marine environments are estimated at more than US$235 million. In particular, the Bank is supporting several regional initiatives designed to address transboundary environmental issues that affect poverty alleviation and sustainable development. 

International Coral Reef Initiative

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a partnership among nations and organizations seeking to implement Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, and other international Conventions and agreements for the benefit of coral reefs and related ecosystems. The Initiative was established in order to stop and reverse the global degradation of coral reefs and related ecosystems. The ICRI partnership and approach thus far has been to mobilize governments and a wide range of other stakeholders in an effort to improve management practices, increase capacity and political support, and share information on the health of these ecosystems.

Links to Additional Resources

Bank Backs Push to Save Coral Reefs (Feature Story, June 2004)

GEF Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management