Almost all coral reef ecosystems face risk of collapse in 50 years, study warns
The world’s coral reef ecosystems almost all face a high risk of collapse in the next 50 years, mostly due to warming oceans and heat waves, according to a global assessment released Thursday. It's the latest dose of bad news for coral reefs, which are critical sources for seafood and tourism and often serve as buffers from coastal erosion and storms. Sometimes dubbed “rainforests of the sea,”…
A recent global assessment has revealed that nearly all coral reef ecosystems are at risk of collapse within the next 50 years, primarily due to rising ocean temperatures and heat waves. These vital marine habitats, often referred to as the "rainforests of the sea," are crucial for biodiversity, supporting a quarter of all marine species and providing essential services such as coastal protection and tourism.
However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warns that 96% of shallow-water reef systems are already critically endangered, with many expected to disappear by 2075. Iconic reef systems like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Coral Triangle, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System are among those deemed critically endangered, highlighting the urgent need for effective conservation measures to protect these invaluable ecosystems.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Almost all coral reef ecosystems face risk of collapse in 50 years, study warns winnipegfreepress.com
- Almost every shallow-water coral reef on the planet faces ecosystem collapse by 2075, UN advisors say theguardian.com
- Almost all coral reef ecosystems face risk of collapse in 50 years, study warns koreatimes.co.kr
