THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Africa: Hope Exists for Coral Reefs, But Scientists Warn Time to Act Is ... Mombasa — For years, the story of coral reefs has been written as dying, doomed, gone. Coral reefs have been framed as ecosystems in irreversible decline, threatened by rising ocean temperatures, bleaching events, and ecological collapse. If global temperatures rise to1.5ºCabove pre-industrial levels, up to 90% of tropical coral reefs may vanish by 2050. The result would be reef systems stripped of many of their ecological functions. Yet while the threats are undeniable and urgent, a growing body of evidence suggests the story may be more complex and, in unexpected ways, far more hopeful than the doom narrative suggests. The study, 50 Reefs Plus, identified approximately 165,000 square kilometres of coral reefs with the strongest potential to survive and recover from climate change - if protected. The research drew on more than 45,000 coral surveys and decades of climate and ocean data to produce what its authors described as a global map of coral refugia: the places most likely to persist as the planet warms. Dr Emily Darling, Director of Coral Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), s…

Study sparks hope for ‘climate-resistant’ coral reefs MOMBASA, Kenya - In the crystalline waters off Kenya’s coast, coral reefs are thriving — evidence of a rare good news story in the battle to protect oceans from the ravages of climate change.

Africa: When Coral Reefs Die, Coastal Communities Pay the Price Mombasa, Kenya — For decades, the outlook for the coral reefs has been increasingly bleak. Corals are some of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems, which have faced an existential threat due to rising temperatures that cause increased incidences of bleaching. This makes it inevitable that reefs will experience rapid decline. However, scientists' latest findings seem to paint a slightly different picture regarding the survival prospects of reefs. Dubbed "the rainforests of the sea", the coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor yet are home to up to 25% of marine life. Millions of fish and other species live, feed, and reproduce in and around the reefs. Notably, reefs are essential to people since they protect shorelines from flooding due to storms or tidal waves. They are global ecosystems whose value extends to sustaining the lives of many millions of people. Follow us onWhatsApp|LinkedInfor the latest headlines However, over the past decades, the planet has lost 50% of its reefs. Many corals in the world have been affected by the effects of global warming. Today, more than 80% of the world's reefs are…

Australia's coral reefs are in crisis. - minderoo.org Climate Change As the saying goes, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. We’ve all seen the devastating coral bleaching of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef due to climate change. Now, over the past few weeks, Western Australia’s equally remarkable, World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef is facing a similar fate. Why? Accelerated CO₂ emissions are driving extreme weather events, placing immense stress on our natural ecosystems. Despite decades of scientific warnings, governments and corporations continue to fail in conserving these vital natural environments. Coral bleaching is a major stress response in corals. When under extreme stress, they lose their algae (zooxanthellae), turn white, and may die if stressed for too long. While some corals can survive bleaching, they become far more vulnerable to mortality. Mass bleaching affects many coral species over large areas and can often lead to widespread ecosystem collapse. And it’s not just Ningaloo. From Ningaloo Reef up to Ashmore Reef — covering nearly half of WA’s coastline — the equivalent of a raging bushfire is tearing through our reefs. Ev…

Africa: Hope Exists for Coral Reefs, But Scientists Warn Time to Act Is Running Out [allAfrica] Mombasa -- For years, the story of coral reefs has been written as dying, doomed, gone. Coral reefs have been framed as ecosystems in irreversible decline, threatened by rising ocean temperatures, bleaching events, and ecological collapse. If global temperatures rise to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels, up to 90% of tropical coral reefs may vanish by 2050. The result would be reef systems stripped of many of their ecological functions.

What is a Coral Reef? - NASA 7 min read What is a Coral Reef? Milan Loiacono Science Communication Specialist Oct 15, 2024 Article Contents What is the difference between a reef, coral, and a coral reef? Reef Corals Coral Reefs Why are coral reefs important? What are some current threats to coral reefs? What is being done to protect coral, at NASA and beyond? Resources to Learn More Juvenile black, white, and yellow-striped Bluehead wrasse fish dart in and out of a dead colony of pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus), now covered in various algae, in the waters of Playa Melones, Puerto Rico. NASA Ames/Milan Loiacono Coral reefs cover only 1% of the ocean floor, but support an estimated 25% of all marine life in the ocean, earning them the moniker ‘rainforest of the sea.’ They also play a critical role for coastal communities; preventing coastal erosion, protecting coastlines from hurricane damage, and generating $36 billion in annual income worldwide. We asked Juan Torres-Pérez , a research scientist and coral reef expert at NASA Ames Research Center, about the science behind coral reefs, and the role they play in both marine ecosystems and human communities. What is the difference …

Cautious optimism from the coral reef world: researchers have identified far more climate-resilient reefs than previously recognized. These reefs won’t solve the crisis, but they may help reefs persist and recover—if protected. The emergency remains. So does the hope. 🌊🪸

Supporting a Community Led Approach to Save Coral Reefs Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth. However, they are facing unprecedented threats due to climate change, including rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. In response to these challenges, Kyeema has partnered withCorals for Conservation(C4C) to implement it’s innovative “Reefs of Hope” methodology in the Pacific. Reefs of Hope has recently received official endorsement from UNESCO as part of itsOcean Decade of Action, providing the highest level of international recognition. This methodology includes emergency measures to evacuate heat-adapted corals from the hottest parts of the reef to cooler waters within the same reef systems. By empowering communities and resorts to participate in coral conservation efforts, Reefs of Hope aims to prevent local coral species extinctions. The operational assumptions of Reefs of Hope are straightforward: Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby, Director of C4C, who developed the Reefs of Hope methodology, has often been described as the grandfather of coral gardening. At the recent Reef Resilience Symposium in Cairns, he emphasized the urgen…

Scientists identify 64,000 sq miles of coral reef capable of surviving ... Scientists have identified nearly 166,000 sq km (64,000 sq miles) of coral reefs that are capable of surviving and recovering from climate change, three times more than previously estimated, research showed on Tuesday. The world’s coral reefs, which sustain a quarter of all marine life, have come under severe stress as a result of violent tropical storms, pollution and mass “bleaching” events caused by soaring ocean temperatures, with some scientists warning that they are facing irreversible decline. But an analysis of 45,000 coral surveys together with decades of climate and ocean data has identified climate-resilient reefs across 71 countries and 100 territories, including in parts of the Caribbean and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans that have not previously been recognised. “Coral reefs are often framed as ecosystems beyond saving,” said Emily Darling, director of coral conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and one of the report’s authors. “This research shows otherwise: we know where the hope is and what we need now is political will.” Countries are currently drawing up action pla…

Coral Reef Conservation 166000 sq km Resilient Reefs Identified >> >> >> ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Coral reef conservation has received a major boost as scientists have identified nearly 166,000 square kilometres of coral reefs capable of surviving and recovering from the climate crisis, three times more than previously estimated. Coral reef conservation has been given new hope.Scientists have identified nearly 166,000 square kilometres of coral reefsthat are capable of surviving and recovering from the climate crisis, three times more than previously estimated. The research, presented by theWildlife Conservation Society and Macquarie University, analyzed more than 45,000 coral surveys together with decades of climate and ocean data. The findings reveal climate-resilient reefs across 71 countries and 100 territories, including parts of the Caribbean and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans that had not previously been recognized. Coral reef conservation has long been framed as a losing battle. Coral reefs sustain a quarter of all marine life and support the livelihoods of more than 500 million people. They have come under severe stress from violent tropical storms, pollution,…

Ningaloo reef coral bleaching: Western Australian reef suffers over 100 ... Advertisement Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A The first thing you notice as you enter the sparkling waters of a healthy coral reef is the sheer cacophony of the thing. Healthy reefs crackle and pop with marine life. The chattering of fish and snapping of shrimp and other crustaceans sound to the naked ear like the “tick-tick-tick” of popping candy. But vast tracts of Australia’s reefs have fallen silent, on the east and west coasts of Australia, their coral structures a ghostly dull white or smothered by sludge-coloured algae. Ningaloo Reef, off Western Australia’s north-west coast, has largely escaped the increasingly frequent coral bleaching that has blighted the Great Barrier Reef. The crystalline waters of Ningaloo Reef, pictured in healthier times. Anouska Freedman for ACF This year, wide-scale bleaching of Ningaloo’s corals, across more than 100 kilometres, shows that no longer holds true. During winter, this World Heritage-listed region plays host to migrating humpback whales and whale sharks, while dugongs, sharks,…

Marine Heatwave Kills Nearly Two-Thirds of Corals at Australia's World ... A catastrophic marine heatwave has devastated one of Australia’s most precious marine ecosystems, killing approximately 65% of corals in popular tourism areas of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia’s coast. Scientists describe the aftermath as eerily quiet, with once-vibrant coral communities now reduced to skeletal remains. The unprecedented heating event struck the reef’s northern lagoon with particular severity, causing what researchers term “profound ecological simplification” – a scientific way of describing the collapse of complex marine ecosystems into barren underwater landscapes. Among the casualties were keystone coral species that served as the foundation for entire habitat networks, supporting countless fish, invertebrates, and other marine life. Ningaloo Reef, stretching 260 kilometers along Western Australia’s coast, has long been celebrated as one of the world’s most accessible and pristine coral reef systems. The reef attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually who come to snorkel and dive among its colorful corals and swim alongside whale sharks, manta rays…

Business & economic implications of the landmark "50 Reefs+" study A landmark coral reef study unveiled at the Our Ocean Conference is reshaping the economic and environmental debate around one of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems, identifying roughly 166,000 square kilometers of climate-resilient reefs that scientists say could serve as a critical safeguard for coastal economies, food systems and natural infrastructure. The research, tied to the “Our Reefs, Our Future” campaign and discussed in an interview with study co-author Dr. Emily Darling of the Wildlife Conservation Society, maps out reefs with the strongest likelihood of persisting through climate change. The findings span 71 countries and 100 territories, and suggest that despite years of bleak warnings over coral decline, a significant portfolio of reefs retains the capacity to avoid, resist or recover from marine heat stress. For investors, policymakers and coastal governments, the study carries implications far beyond biodiversity. Coral reefs underpin fisheries, tourism, shoreline protection and community livelihoods for nearly 1 billion people worldwide, according to Darling. They also support billions of d…

This ancient Australian reef is sending a silent distress call This ancient Australian reef is sending a silent distress call Story by Hilary Whiteman, CNN Photographs and video by Nush Freedman for CNN Updated May 7, 2025 Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. Halfway up the coast of Western Australia, American tourists Emily Wapman and Evan Risucci are riding a gentle current off Turquoise Bay, one of the country’s most remote and beautiful beaches. It’s called drift snorkeling, and the water’s guiding them over Ningaloo, one of the world’s longest near-shore reefs, revealing coral that’s as white as the sand on the sea floor — drained of color by the stress of a severe and prolonged marine heatwave. “You hear about it in school, there’s all this bleaching, but it’s very eye-opening to see the scale of it,” said Wapman, who’s just graduated with a degree in biological sciences and will soon start a master’s …

Vast areas of coral could resist climate change - study - RTÉ Updated / Tuesday, 16 Jun 2026 09:14 Around a third of the world's coral reefs are 'climate-resilient' In the crystalline waters off Kenya's coast, coral reefs are thriving - evidence of a rare, good news story in the battle to protect oceans from the ravages of climate change. A new study presented at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa finds that 166,000 square kilometres of the world's coral reefs - around a third of the total - are particularly "climate-resilient", meaning they have the potential to survive through major ocean warming events. The study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Macquarie University in Australia challenges the findings of the IPCC, the global authority on climate change, which has stated 70% to 90% of coral reefs could die with global warming of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, and 99% at 2C. "Our models are showing a much more hopeful future for corals reefs. We predict that there are many climate resilient reefs around the world that will persist over time," Stacy Jupiter, executive director for marine conservation at WCS, said. Coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef during…

Rosneft has taken control of Russia's biggest rare earth deposit. Researchers have found that scientists are able to identify a coral reef of 166,000 square kilometers (64,000 square miles) which is capable of recovering from climate change. This is three times greater than what was previously thought. Scientists have warned that the world's coral reefs, which support a quarter of all marine life on earth, are under extreme stress due to violent tropical storms and pollution, as well as mass "bleaching events" caused by rising ocean temperatures. A combination of decades of climate and ocean data and 45,000 coral surveys has revealed climate-resilient coral reefs in 71 countries. This includes parts of the Caribbean, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and other areas that were not previously recognised. Emily Darling is the director of coral conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society and one of the authors of the report. "This research shows that we are wrong: We?know the place where hope lies and we only need political will now." The countries are currently drafting action plans to protect 30% of their marine and land environments by the end of this decade. This target i…