A scientific briefer on… coral reefs
Our researcher Verity has written a 1-page briefing on coral reefs, linked up the most relevant scientific papers and reports:
Coral reefs house some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, and provide a vital resource for many coastal communities. Yet, sadly, the world’s coral reefs are in decline: coral cover in the Caribbean has dropped by 80% over the last thirty years, whilst Indo-Pacific coral cover has been declining by 1% per year since the 1980s. This is particularly alarming since the Indo-Pacific is home to around three quarters of the world’s coral reefs.
It has recently emerged that 75% of the world’s coral reefs are under threat, both from local activities and global processes related to climate change.
Over the coming months we’ll be pulling together more of these short briefings. If you have suggestions for topics to cover, either put them in the comments or drop us an email: info [a] carbonbrief.org
The full profile is here: www.carbonbrief.org/profiles/coral-reefs