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[INTERNATIONAL] · Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica · 47 sources

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Global coral reefs face declining cover and shrinking recovery windows

The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) has released its Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025 report, based on over 21 million observations from 36,886 reef sites across 124 countries. The report warns that global hard coral cover has declined by 9.5% compared to the 1980–2009 baseline, driven primarily by human-induced climate change and marine heatwaves.

A critical finding is the shrinking window for reef recovery. While reefs have shown the capacity to regenerate—evidenced by a 6% increase in cover between 2017 and 2019—the frequency of mass bleaching events has nearly doubled. Instead of decades between major events, reefs now often have only five to six years to recover.

Regional impacts vary significantly. The Caribbean and the Persian Gulf/Arabian Sea have seen severe declines, with the Caribbean experiencing a 43% drop in coral cover. In Central America, the loss of hard coral is accompanied by an increase in macroalgae coverage. Scientists emphasize that while reefs have not yet reached a point of no return, urgent action to reduce global emissions and manage local stressors like water quality and coastal development is essential to safeguard their future.

Entities

Australian Institute of Marine Science · Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network · International Coral Reef Initiative · MSC Foundation · Manuel González R · Manuel González Rivero · Palau

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