The Reef Check project

The reef check foundations was built 1997 to face the deteriorating conditions in coral reefs. Reef check is a nonprofit organisation that maintains the global program for documentation and preservation of coral reefs. Represented in more then 80 countries a network of scientists and volunteers assess standardised data, which are analysed by regional coordinators in the headquarter of reef check in the USA. International teams work with local council authorities, goverments and companies for scientific documentation, the program to rebuild and the conservation of reefs world wide.

The reef conserving organisation was initiated by the idea of a cooperation between scientists and volunteer divers for data assessment. By 1997 the need for scientific data on the reef conditions was very high. The idea was to create a common data stock on reefs and to make a public opinion. In the meanwhile is the reef check method a standard procedure in the GCRMN (Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network) of the united nationans. Reef Check Europe puts its main effort in the Red Sea, Burma/Thailand and the Maledives. Besides the work with lay divers (courses in Germany for Reef Check or the volunteer participation during holidays) expert reports on marine conservation actions and support to improve local monitoring or conservation procedures are a main feature of Reef Check Europe. An example for the support actions is that park rangers will be teached how to use the methods.

G. Heiss