Scientists have identified nearly 166,000 square kilometers (64,000 square miles) of coral reefs that are capable of surviving and recovering from climate change, according to research released on Tuesday. This figure is three times larger than previously estimated.
The world's coral reefs, which sustain a quarter of all marine life, have faced severe stress from violent tropical storms, pollution, and mass bleaching events caused by soaring ocean temperatures. Some scientists warned that these ecosystems are facing irreversible decline.
However, an analysis of 45,000 coral surveys combined with decades of climate and ocean data has pinpointed climate-resilient reefs across 71 countries and 100 territories, including areas in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans that were not previously recognized.
Hope for Coral Reefs
Emily Darling, director of coral conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and a co-author of the report, stated, "Coral reefs are often framed as ecosystems beyond saving. This research shows otherwise: we know where the hope is and what we need now is political will."
Countries are currently developing action plans to bring 30 percent of their land and marine environments under formal protection by the end of the decade, a target known as "30 by 30." The new research will enable governments to incorporate coral reef locations into their planning.
Darling noted that only 28 percent of the identified resilient reefs currently fall within protected and conserved areas. "The opportunity is clear, and so is the urgency, especially as we face an upcoming super El Nino event," she said during a briefing.
Strategic Conservation
Stacy Jupiter, co-author and executive director of the WCS Global Marine Program, explained that the data could guide governments in deciding where to deploy limited funds to give resilient reefs the best chance of survival. "In certain cases, where reefs are below certain benchmarks for ecosystem function, it may be a case of triage, where we may need to leave those places," she said.
The findings offer a roadmap for conservation efforts, highlighting areas where intervention can be most effective. The study underscores that while many reefs are threatened, there are still significant areas that can withstand climate pressures if protected properly.
