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Marine Biodiversity Analysis (MBA)
A Marine Biodiversity Analysis (MBA) rapidly generates and disseminates information on coastal and near-shore shallow-water marine biodiversity. In particular, information focuses on recommending priorities for the establishment and management of protected areas. The main focus of MBA surveys is the "coral triangle", the region containing the richest coastal and marine biodiversity in the world and encompassing Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, southern Japan, and northern Australia. MBAs survey corals, molluscs, and fishes and also assess the environmental status and social context of the area surveyed.
MBA expeditions record the diversity of selected indicator groups of marine organisms, and analyze this information in tandem with social, environmental and other ecosystem information to produce appropriate and realistic conservation recommendations in a time frame suited to managers and decision-makers.
In practice, CI's Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) methodology provides baseline biodiversity information on a selected forest, freshwater, or coral reef area. Both biological and socio-economic data are gathered in order to recommend conservation priorities and to help local natural resource managers. RAP surveys are intended as short-term field assessments of key biological indicator groups led by a team of experts recruited from the international scientific community. With 29 surveys (plus five training courses) so far completed in South America, Central America, West Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Solomon Islands, RAP has proven an effective tool in helping to conserve some of the world's richest and most threatened areas for biodiversity. | |
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MBA in Northwest Madagascar
Read the preliminary report on the MBA that took place in Northwest Madagascar in January 2002. Marine RAP Survey of Northwest Madagascar.
This report highlights significant results and indicates a highly diverse marine fauna.
Survey results include:
- 304 species of hard corals or more than one-third of the world's total.
- At least nine new coral species.
- At least 400 mollusc species.
- 460 species of reef fishes recorded, with at least 576 predicted for the survey area.
- At least three new fish species.
Preliminary analysis reveals that about 80 percent of species in the survey area are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific and the remaining 20 percent are restricted to the Indian Ocean. No endemism was detected, but several species are restricted to areas that include Madagascar and adjacent locations such as E. Africa and the islands of Comoros, Mauritius and Réunion.
Visit the ReefBase website, an online information system on coral reefs.
Related news link:
Coral Trove Found Off Madagascar
National Geographic News, 15 May 2002
MBA Expeditions
| Year |
Location |
Country |
Products |
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| 2006 |
Abrolhos Bank, Bahia |
Brazil |
RAP Bulletin |
2006 |
Northeast Madagascar |
Madagascar |
RAP Bulletin coming soon |
| 2006 | Saba Bank | Netherlands-Antillies | RAP Bulletin coming soon | | 2002 | Northwest Madagascar | Madagascar | RAP Bulletin coming soon | | 2001 | Togean and Banggai Islands | Sulawesi, Indonesia | RAP Bulletin | | 2001 |
Raja Ampat Islands, Irian Jaya |
Indonesia |
RAP Bulletin |
| 2000 |
Abrolhos Bank |
Brazil |
Preliminary RAP report |
| 2000 |
Milne Bay Province |
Papua New Guinea |
RAP Bulletin |
| 1998 |
Northern Palawan Province |
Philippines |
RAP Bulletin |
| 1997 |
Milne Bay Province |
Papua New Guinea |
RAP Bulletin |
| 1993 |
Rennell Islands / Indispensables |
Solomon Islands |
For more information, please email us |
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| |  | | New Presentations on Hydrological Services Available Online: Sampurno Bruijnzeel, tropical hydrology expert, talks about vegetation, reforestation, and hydrological services in two CI-sponsored presentations.
Oct. 16 presentation at the World Bank (8 MB PDF)
Oct. 17 presentation at CI (7.2 MB PDF)New CABS Brochure Now Available: Click here to view the latest CABS brochure. Contact us to order a hard copy. The Environmental Systems Research Institute Awards CABS’ GIS & Mapping Lab: The Institute honored the Lab for the fifth time in six years, awarding it First Place in the Best Cartographic Design - Single Map Product category for the Coppename River AquaRAP by Mark Denil.
View the winning map Hotspots Revisited Available Online. Hotspots Revisited details the state of the earth's biodiversity hotspots. The book identifies 34 regions that cover only 2.3 percent of the Earth's surface but are home to 75 percent of the planet's most threatened species.
View Hotspots Revisited | |
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