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Scientists identify 64,000 sq miles of coral reef capable of surviving climate crisis
Yahoo • • world
Key Points:
- Scientists have identified nearly 166,000 sq km of coral reefs capable of surviving and recovering from climate change, which is three times more than previously estimated.
- The research analyzed 45,000 coral surveys along with decades of climate and ocean data, revealing climate-resilient reefs across 71 countries and 100 territories, including new areas in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans.
- Only 28% of these resilient reefs are currently within protected areas, highlighting the urgency and opportunity for governments to enhance conservation efforts, especially with the looming threat of a super El Niño event.
- The findings support global conservation goals such as the "30 by 30" target, enabling better-informed decisions on where to allocate resources to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems.
- Experts emphasize the need for political will and strategic prioritization, including potential triage of severely degraded reefs, to maximize the chances of survival for the most resilient coral ecosystems.
