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Strategy paper for the protection of coral reefs

Jul 21, 2021
The last El Niño in 2016 led to a prolonged temperature increase in the oceans of the tropics worldwide. Large-scale coral bleaching occurred worldwide, as here in American Samoa in the Pacific. The picture of the same reef section before (left side) and
The last El Niño in 2016 led to a prolonged temperature increase in the oceans of the tropics worldwide. Large-scale coral bleaching occurred worldwide, as here in American Samoa in the Pacific. The picture of the same reef section before (left side) and after (right side) shows impressively that the complete reef top is bleached. USA, American Samoa, 2016. Download Photo: The Ocean Agency / www.ICRS2020.de

Within the framework of the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) 2021, a team of researchers has now published a strategy paper for the protection of coral reefs around the world. The team of authors includes Dr. Thomas Felis from MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen.

In the document, renowned researchers emphasize the importance of protecting coral reefs worldwide - for example, to maintain biodiversity and balance in the oceans. Only targeted actions, the paper says, can help preserve and restore reefs.

The coming decade is likely the last chance for policymakers at all levels to prevent a "global collapse of coral reefs," it says. The authors propose three strategies to save the reefs: addressing climate change, improving local ocean conditions and actively restoring corals.

More information

 

Contact:
Dr. Thomas Felis
Phone: +49 421 21865751
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