Title: Impacts of climate change on world heritage coral reefs: a first global scientific assessment
Abstract:Since 1972, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention has
united the world around a shared responsibility to protect
natural and cultural places of Outstanding Universal Value
(OUV). The World Heritage ...Since 1972, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention has
united the world around a shared responsibility to protect
natural and cultural places of Outstanding Universal Value
(OUV). The World Heritage List includes 29 natural, marine
properties that contain coral reef systems. Stretching around
the planet, these globally significant reefs include icons such
as the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Kiribati), the Great
Barrier Reef (Australia), Papahānaumokuākea (USA), Belize
Barrier Reef Reserve System (Belize) and Tubbataha Reefs
Natural Park (Philippines). They are recognized for their unique
and global importance and for being part of the common
heritage of humanity.
Coral reefs are ecologically and economically important
ecosystems found across the world’s tropical and sub-tropical
oceans. Despite covering less than 0.1% of the ocean floor,
reefs host more than one quarter of all marine fish species (in addition to many other marine animals). They are the most
inherently biodiverse ecosystems in the ocean – comparable
to rainforests on land. These ‘Rainforests of the Sea’ provide
social, economic and cultural services with an estimated value
of over USD $1 Trillion globally. For example, the complex
three-dimensional structure of reefs not only provides habitat
but also dissipates wave energy to protect coastlines from
erosion and damage. Coastal protection and human use
(including tourism, recreation and fishing) supply the greatest
economic benefits from coral reefs to over half a billion people
around the world.
Despite their importance and value, most coral reefs are
under enormous pressure from a range of different human
activities globally including agricultural run-off, urban
development, and over-fishing. Superimposed on these local
threats, increased ocean temperature has caused the death
of corals around the world in recent years. At this point, rising
atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by human activity is the
greatest threat to coral reefs globally, primarily due to ocean
warming but also due to ocean acidification that ensues.Read More
Publication Year: 2017
Publication Date: 2017-06-23
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 87
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