Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) was initiated in 1999 as a direct response to the El-Niño related mass bleaching and mortality of corals in the Indian Ocean in 1998, focusing initially on Eastern Africa, Western Indian Ocean Islands and South Asia. Since the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 the programme also covers the Andaman Sea, and from 2007 has started work in the Red Sea.

CORDIO's goals are to:

1)     conduct research on coastal and ocean ecosystems relevant to conserving, sustaining and restoring healthy and productive marine environments;

2)     strengthen social and economic assessment and research to support Integrated Coastal Management, poverty alleviation and sustainable development;

3)     foster integration of science, practice and policy at local, national and regional levels;

4)     educate and build the capacity of coastal people to improve their livelihoods and long term well-being;

5)     build human and technical capacity, and foster networking and partnerships, to achieve our objectives.

Problem statement

The challenges faced by developing countries in the 2010s dwarf those of previous decades as the footprint of the world’s population exceeds the size of the planet. Global climate change is one of the most pressing illustrations of this, signaled clearly by degrading coral reefs. Challenges facing the marine environment can be summarized into three broad areas:

Biophysical challenges – habitat fragmentation, loss of species and reduced productivity;

Social challenges – overpopulation and high consumption, poverty, lack of alternatives, low awareness and poor governance;

Contextual drivers – low technical capacity, synergistic problems, globalization and perverse economic and political incentives.

A new strategic plan is under development, for 2010-2014, to be available shortly here.