Menu
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Established in 1997, GovGuam established the Coral Reef Initiative to address threats to the reefs. The CRI Provides funding for management and protection of coral reef ecosystems in the insular areas (CFDA 15.875). Socio-Economic Planning Program participates and leads these conservation efforts along with Guam Coastal Management Program, Department of Agriculture and DAWR, and Guam EPA
Previous
Next
Public Outreach and Education
Visit our Guam Coral Reefs – Education & Outreach website for more information on Guam’s coral reef ecosystems, coral reef conservation projects, and programs led by local agencies and organizations, as well as local events the public can get involved to learn more about Guam’s coral reef ecosystems and how to help protect and preserve these valuable natural resources.
The website also features information on Guam Year of the Reef 2018, a localized effort to celebrate the International Year of the Reef 2018. You can also follow Guam Year of the Reef through the following social media platform.
MEDIA
NEW!
GUAM COASTAL ADVENTURE ACTIVITY BOOK
This activity book was created with funding from NOAA CRCP grant NA19NOS4820057
Written & Illustrated by Cara Lin, Guam Department of Agriculture, as part of the National Coral Reef Fellowship 2020-2022
Edited by Whitney Hoot, Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans
Marie Auyong, CSS, on contract to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Guam Reefs
Highlights
Publications
Status Reports & SOTR
Watershed Management Plans
DATA
Guam Reefs
Guam, a United.States. unincorporated territory, is the southernmost island in the Mariana Archipelago. It is located in the western Pacific approximately 3,700 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii; 1,500 miles east of Manila; and 1,500 miles south-southeast of Tokyo, Japan. It is the largest island in Micronesia, with a land mass of 216 mi2 and a maximum elevation of approximately 405 meters. It is also the most heavily populated island in Micronesia with a population of about 168,000 people (July 2018 est). The northern portion of the island is relatively flat and consists primarily of uplifted limestone. The southern half of the island is primarily volcanic, with more topographic relief and large areas of highly erodible soils. This topography creates a number of watersheds throughout the southern areas which are drained by 96 rivers.
The condition of Guam’s coral reefs (including fringing reefs, patch reefs, submerged reefs, offshore banks, and barrier reefs) varies considerably, depending on a variety of factors including geology, human population density, degree of coastal development, levels and types of marine resource uses, oceanic circulation patterns, and frequency of natural disturbances (e.g., storms and earthquakes). Many of Guam’s reefs have declined in health over the past 40 years. However, in the past, Guam’s coral reefs have recovered after drastic declines. For example, an outbreak of the crown-of-thorns seastar in the early 1970s reduced coral cover in some areas from 50 to 60% to less than 1%. Twelve years later, greater than 60% live coral cover was recorded for these areas. A more distressing indicator of the condition of Guam’s coral reefs is the marked decrease in rates of coral recruitment.
Reefs unaffected by sediment, nutrient loading, and freshwater runoff in the northern part of the island and between river outflows, have relatively healthy coral communities. The reefs have not suffered the large scale bleaching events and coral diseases seen in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, some reefs have been damaged by land-based sources of pollution and heavy fishing pressure.
Highlights
Highlights
OCM Coastal Impact Stories: Coral Reef Conservation Program in Guam
Publications
Publications
|
Guam’s Coral Reef Management Priorities (2010) Guam Capacity Assessment Report and Coral Reef Conservation Time line U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-33, 22 Report on the Status of Marine Protected Areas in Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States. Guam’s 5-Year Coral Reef Initiative Program Potential larval sources, destinations, and self-seeding in the Mariana Archipelago documented using ocean drifters (Journal of Oceanography, 2014) |
Successive bleaching events cause mass coral mortality in Guam, Micronesia (2019) Guam Coral Bleaching Response Plan (April 2017) Design and Parameterization of a Coral Reef Ecosystem Model for Guam The economic value of Guam’s coral reef Field Identification Guide to the Threatened Corals of the U.S. Pacific Islands
|
Status Reports & SOTR
Status Reports
Coral Reef Condition: A Status Report for Guam (2018)
State of The Reefs Report (SOTR)
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002.
Watershed Management Plans
Watershed Management Plans
Piti-Asan watershed management plan
A GIS-based watershed management plan for the Piti-Asan watersheds
Draft Conservation Plan for the Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve and Adjacent Watershed
DATA
Metadata, Data and Publications Search in CoRISSearch the CoRIS Geoportal for Guam metadata, data and publications ReefBase Coral Bleaching Reports – Select “Micronesia” in the Region window and “Guam” in the Country window Near-real-time DataCoral Reef Watch Satellite Monitoring Coral Reef Watch – Mariana Islands and Guam The Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Program USGS Water Resources – Data for Guam NOAA CO-OPS Tide data NOAA Tide Predictions – Guam
|
Other DataGuam Coastal Atlas – The atlas provides benthic habitat maps and geospatial data for the nearshore waters of Guam. Natural Resources Atlas of Southern Guam Digital Atlas of Northern Guam Coastal Guam Aerial Imagery Project Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center – Guam Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas Government of Guam’s Map Viewer- USGS Projected Flood Extent for Guam Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) Landcover Data – Guam |
FEDERAL GRANTS
Coral Reef Initiative Grant
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM (CRCP)
Guam Coral Reef Management Priorities
Contact Us
- P.O. Box 2950 Hagatna, Guam 96932
- (671) 472-4201/2/3
management and staff
- Lola Leon Guerrero - Director - lolalg@bsp.guam.gov
- Matthew Santos - Dep. Director - matthew.santos@bsp.guam.gov
divisions
find us
- 513 W Marine Dr. Hagåtña, Guam 96910