The ocean is losing its "tropical forests". Scientists' forecasts are not cheerful

The research results were presented during the UN Biodiversity Conference in Albania. According to scientists' estimates, 96% of shallow-water reef ecosystems are already under critically high threat and could disappear by 2075.

Most of the planet's most famous reef systems, including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Coral Triangle in the western Pacific and Southeast Asia, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, and the coral reefs of the Red Sea, have fallen into the critically endangered category. This is the highest level of threat.

"The threat of coral reef destruction is growing. However, this should be a call for urgent action, not a reason for despair," said Michal Gudka, scientific lead of the first global assessment of coral reef ecosystem health.

According to him, coral reefs have shown a remarkable ability to recover after devastating bleaching events.

"In the future, isolated reef areas with corals resilient to adverse conditions may persist. Therefore, we must do everything possible to give them a chance to survive," he emphasized.

The new assessment is another alarming signal regarding the state of coral reefs, which are crucial for fisheries and tourism, and also protect coastlines from erosion and storms. They are often called "rainforests of the sea" due to their extraordinarily rich biodiversity.

Reefs provide habitats for a quarter of marine species, and also support coastal communities and local business activities.

When a reef ecosystem collapses, hard corals disappear, and their place is taken by algae, rubble, and sponges. As a result, the reef can no longer support a diverse ecosystem home to both small invertebrates and reef fish, including groupers.

"Coral reefs are one of the clearest indicators of ocean health," stated IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar.

The assessment covered 127 tropical and subtropical ecological regions. The total area of studied coral reefs amounted to 188,362 square kilometers.

Researchers identified climate change as "the most consistent factor causing the decline of coral reefs worldwide."

Additionally, another IUCN study was published in the journal Nature. According to it, almost 44% of reef-forming coral species face an increased risk of extinction due to climate change.

A year ago, research showed that massive bleaching affected 84% of the world's reefs. This was the most intense such event ever recorded.

"2024 has been the hottest year in the history of meteorological observations on the planet, and a significant portion of the excess heat is absorbed by the oceans. The average annual surface temperature of ocean waters outside polar regions reached a record 20.87 degrees Celsius," the article's authors note.

In addition to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, experts emphasize the need to reduce pollution, combat overfishing, and limit coastal development. These measures can increase reefs' chances of survival.

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