Concluding Thoughts

Over the past three months this blog has attempted to uncover some of the most significant climate related threats to coral reefs.  These are presented in the poster below (click to view full size). 




 

This exercise has revealed the fragile nature of these globally important marine ecosystems, as well as the potential loss in natural and economic wealth that a changing climate could bring about. It is evident that anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are creating conditions that test the resilience of coral reefs, due to the impact of increasing sea temperatures, acidifying oceans, rising sea levels and increasing storm intensity. Although it is apparent that coral reefs have adapted to dynamic climate conditions for thousands of years, the speed of contemporary climate change combined with direct human pressures poses a worrying threat. In order to ensure that the natural resilience of coral reefs enables these ecosystems to adapt to a changing climate it is imperative that detrimental human activities, such as overfishing, coral mining and sedimentation, are effectively managed. Ensuring that an effective balance between conservation practices and sustainable resource use for local people is met will help to maintain these ecosystems. As well as attempting to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change, efforts need to be made to stop the problem at source. This means stricter and better enforced international policies to reduce anthropogenic environmental degradation, as well as investment in renewable energy sources and more efficient technologies. Ultimately, the future of coral reefs is in our hands, as is the case with many other important habitats. Being able to protect these ecosystems and prevent widespread extinctions is, in my mind, the most demanding challenge human’s face.