Reefs at Risk Revisited
Coral reefs are among the world’s most valuable ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, coastal protection, and livelihoods. Reefs at Risk Revisited provides a high‑resolution global assessment of human and climate-related threats to coral reefs, highlighting patterns of risk, national vulnerability, and opportunities to guide effective conservation, policy, and management responses.
Subject Tags
- Reefs
- Coastal
- Climate resilience
Summary
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth, often described as the rain forests of the sea. They support millions of people by providing food, income, coastal protection, and livelihoods through fisheries and tourism, while also generating beach sand and protecting shorelines from storms. Despite their value, coral reefs face escalating threats from local human pressures such as overfishing, coastal development, agricultural runoff, and shipping, compounded by global climate change. Rising sea temperatures have already caused widespread coral bleaching, and increasing carbon dioxide emissions are driving ocean acidification, reducing coral growth and weakening reef structure. Together, these stressors make reefs more vulnerable to storms, disease, and ecological degradation. Reefs at Risk Revisited, led by the World Resources Institute and partners, provides a high‑resolution global assessment of threats to coral reefs, including climate‑related risks for the first time. Using improved spatial data and analytical methods, the project identifies where reefs are most at risk and evaluates the vulnerability of nations and territories based on their dependence on reefs and capacity to adapt. The results support conservation planning, policy development, and targeted management actions to safeguard coral reefs and the benefits they provide for future generations.
Citation
Burke, L., Reytar, K., Spalding, M., & Perry, A. (2011). Reefs at risk. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, 124, 86.
TNC Authors
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Mark Spalding
Senior Marine Scientist • Protect Oceans, Lands and Waters
The Nature Conservancy
Email: mspalding@tnc.org