Approximately 28% of Maldives Gross Domestic Product comes directly from tourism, especially that revolving around its coral reefs and another 6% from fisheries ("Intelligence...",2012). Also 20% of the Islands of Maldives are under 1.5 meters above sea level ("Ministry of Housing...", 2010). The other 80% just barely beat that mark meaning almost all the islands are at a potential risk which could turn into a nation wide disaster ("Ministry of Housing..." 2010). This means that the islands of Maldives will be hit hard as the effects of climate change increase.
So how do you cope with a slowly fading and dissolving reef? The best management technique is to stop reef loss, but that is much easier said than done. The first step is to implement proper monitoring to understand the dynamics of coral temperature interactions and to be able to more accurately predict crises such as bleaching. The issue of waste disposal which makes corals even more vulnerable to environmental stress is another reason why it is incredibly important to implement better waste management such as composting to prevent further damage.
There should also be continued protection against coral mining. Unfortunately, many houses in Maldives are built out of coral and lining walkways with coral has become a symbol of wealth and status within these communities, but the ecosystem doesn't have the production level to support this practice("6 Profile...", 1979). Fortunately, many locals have noticed the changes in the condition of the reefs brought about by the El Niño events and now support protection and conservation realizing that many had taken it for granted. Even though mining is still allowed, regulations were put in place in 1992 and are currently being reviewed (Goreau, 1979). Marine Research Center (MRS) was also created as a resource management and information service to protect marine ecosystems. They have established 15 marine protected areas in Maldives and have conducted various research projects to monitor marine life ("6 Profile...", 1979).The Marine Conservation Society based out of the UK is using a method of surveying reefs before and after bleaching events in order to better understand recovery patterns and find if there is a delayed or reduced recovery response due to global warming ("6 Profile...", 1979).
Finally, the most important solution is to decrease carbon emissions. If we can stop climate change and prevent the sea surface temperature and height from increasing then we can prevent the devastation of Maldives.
Restoration
Despite the bleak outlook coral reefs have in light of the changing environment, there may be hope. There has been a wave of restoration products that use the power of electricity to stimulate new growth. Electricity promotes the precipitation of a material made of limestone and brucite which is basically the composition of natural coral reefs and tropical sand beaches ("Frequently...",2011). Hard corals can adhere easily to the limestone giving them a strong base to grow ("Frequently..", 2011). In addition, CaCO3 promotes faster growth which in turns leads to faster reproduction, increased resistance environmental stresses, more vivid colors and an overall healthier appearance ("Frequently...", 2011). These results are not just a result of higher levels of CaCO3 but also a higher rate of division in the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae. While the science is a little tricky, it basically creates an environment with a pH that the corals usually have to create themselves, allowing them to allot their energy and resources into growth. This allows the corals living on these structures to resist the negative effects of climate change because they are healthier and strong and can put more energy in surviving changing climate ("Frequently...", 2011).
These artificial reefs are typically constructed out of rebar and can be powered with tidal, solar, or wind energy.This allows them to be completely sustainable and only in need of occasional maintenance checks ("Frequently...",2011) . .The architects responsible for the project in Maldives are working with an artist to make the structures not only functional, but visually interesting. Biologists have also managed to use living pieces of coral that were broken off during previous storms. They attached these pieces to the structures, giving the original coral a second chance at life.
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