Threats

The combination of global climate change and local threats has resulted in major declines in coral reef ecosystems worldwide. Over 50% of corals may have been lost in the last 30 years, ref with a 14% decline in live coral cover observed just in the last 10 years. Corals are now listed as “most at risk of extinction” by the Convention on Biological Diversity, ref with catastrophic repercussions on the services they provide and the people they support, reflecting not just a biodiversity crisis, but also a social, cultural, and economic challenge. Fortunately, scientists, conservationists, and environmental managers across the globe are developing and implementing new strategies to protect and conserve these ecosystems against a suite of local and global threats.

Climate threats affect all reefs regions of the world. They are mostly linked to increase sea-surface temperatures and associated mass coral bleaching, but also include changes in ocean chemistry, tropical storms patterns and sea level rise. This toolkit provides information on climate threats to coral reefs, their ecological and socio-economic impacts, and existing management strategies. For more in-depth information, take the Introduction to Coral Reef Management Online Course Lesson 2: Threats to Coral Reefs and Lesson 3: Management Strategies for Resilience.

Two different species of corals experiencing varying levels of resistance to bleaching. Photo © The Ocean Agency