A new study has shown that around 14 percent of the world's coral reefs have been lost since 2009 because of climate change. The international report studied the state of the world's reefs and how they have changed over the past decade.
The report, which was compiled by several environmental groups, showed how the effects of global warming have devastated the world's coral population. However, the report does offer some hope that some coral reefs may be saved if the world works together to cut carbon emissions.
David Obura from the International Union for Conservation of Nature said in the report that coral reefs act like canaries in coal mines as they give us an early warning on the true state of the planet's condition. Obura, who is one of the report's editors, said that the coral reef decline is a cause for "deep concern." He added that the trajectory of the decline is especially alarming.
Serge Planes from the Island Research and Observatory of the Environment in Moorea said that there is now a constant decline. He said in the report that while coral reefs may only be a small part of the aquatic ecosystem, they do provide substantial benefits to both humans and other animals.
The report explained that coral reefs are critical in maintaining the world's fish supply, which feeds billions of people worldwide. Apart from the food, the reefs also protect coasts from storms and provide billions of dollars in revenue to the tourism industry.
The report estimates that coral reefs support an estimated $2.7 trillion per year in goods and services, which is why governments and local communities should work to protect them.
Researchers noted that some of the 900 species of coral appear to be resilient to the heating and acidification of the ocean caused by climate change. However, those varieties tend to be the slower-growing species, which do not support as much biodiversity.
The center for coral reef studies at James Cook University in Australia noted that most studies on reefs may be skewed in presenting reefs to be resilient to climate change. The center said monitoring programs often abandon degraded sites, which means that the true state of reefs is not correctly represented.
The report ends with an emphasis on the need to limit global warming, which will help the world's reef more rapidly recover. Apart from reducing carbon emissions, the report also called on all countries to help reduce pollution such as human sewage and agricultural runoff, which can cause algae blooms.
