Synopsis

This report provides a detailed assessment of the status of and threats to the world's coral reefs. It evaluates threats to coral reefs from a wide range of human activities, and includes an assessment of climate-related threats to reefs. It also contains a global assessment of the vulnerability of nations and territories to coral reef degradation.

Executive Summary

Overview

Reefs at Risk Revisited is a high-resolution update of the original global analysis, Reefs at Risk: A Map-Based Indicator of Threats to the World’s Coral Reefs. Reefs at Risk Revisited uses a global map of coral reefs at 500-m resolution, which is 64 times more detailed than the 4-km resolution map used in the 1998 analysis, and benefits from improvements in many global data sets used to evaluate threats to reefs (most threat data are at 1 km resolution, which is 16 times more detailed than those used in the 1998 analysis).

Key Findings

PDF of Key Findings

Like the original Reefs at Risk, this study evaluates threats to coral reefs from a wide range of human activities. For the first time, it also includes an assessment of climate-related threats to reefs. In addition, Reefs at Risk Revisited includes a global assessment of the vulnerability of nations and territories to coral reef degradation, based on their dependence on coral reefs and their capacity to adapt.

WRI led the Reefs at Risk Revisited analysis in collaboration with a broad partnership of more than 25 research, conservation, and educational organizations. Partners have provided data, offered guidance on the analytical approach, contributed to the report, and served as critical reviewers of the maps and findings.

Selected Media

GIS Data Sets

KML Data Sets

Use these files in Google Earth and other map applications that support KML.

Local & Global Threats in 2050 (3.1 Mb)

Local & Global Threats in 2030 (3.1 Mb)

Local Threats: Present (3.1 Mb)

Technical Documentation:

Technical Notes (PDF, 338 Kb)

Data & Resources DVD

A DVD companion to the Reefs at Risk Revisited report is available upon request. To order a copy, please email reefsatrisk@wri.org, and include a brief description of how you plan to apply the data. The DVD contains:

  • A comprehensive set of GIS data (raw input data and model results);
  • KML files (for viewing on Google Earth);
  • PDF of the Reefs at Risk Revisited report;
  • Technical notes;
  • A complete set of maps in jpeg format;
  • Summary video; and
  • Links to additional resources.

Fact Sheets

Global (PDF, 994 Kb)

Atlantic (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Australia (PDF, 1.0 Mb)

Indian Ocean (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Middle East (PDF, 1.0 Mb)

Pacific (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Southeast Asia (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Posters

Map Poster: Reefs at Risk: Human Pressure on the World’s Coral Reefs Movie Poster: Coral Reefs: Polyps in Peril

Partners

Reefs at Risk Revisited is a project of the World Resources Institute (WRI), developed and implemented in close collaboration with:

  • The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  • WorldFish Center
  • International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
  • United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
  • Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)

Many other government agencies, international organizations, research institutions, universities, non-governmental organizations and initiatives provided scientific guidance, contributed data, and reviewed results, including:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA)
  • Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO)
  • Conservation International (CI)
  • Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)
  • Healthy Reefs for Healthy People
  • International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS)
  • International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
  • L’Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD)
  • National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)
  • Oceana
  • Planetary Coral Reef Foundation
  • Project AWARE Foundation
  • Reef Check
  • Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
  • SeaWeb
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
  • U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • University of South Florida (USF)
  • University of the South Pacific (USP)
  • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
  • World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Financial Support

  • The Chino Cienega Foundation
  • The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
  • The Henry Foundation
  • International Coral Reef Initiative
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  • Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • The Ocean Foundation
  • Roy Disney Family Foundation
  • The Tiffany & Co. Foundation
  • U.S. Department of the Interior
  • U.S. Department of State

Stories

  1. Egypt: Coral Survival under Extreme Conditions
  2. Persian Gulf: The Cost of Coastal Development to Reefs
  3. Tanzania: Deadly Dynamite Fishing Resurfaces
  4. Chagos Archipelago: A Case Study in Rapid Reef Recovery
  5. Indonesia: A New Hope for Seribu Island’s Reefs
  6. Indonesia: People Protect Livelihoods and Reefs in Wakatobi National Park
  7. Philippines: Social Programs Reduce Pressure on Culion Island’s Reefs
  8. Australia: Remaining Risks to the Great Barrier Reef
  9. Palau: Communities Manage Watersheds and Protect Reefs
  10. Guam: Military Development Threatens Reefs
  11. Papua New Guinea: Marine Protection Designed for Reef Resilience in Kimbe Bay
  12. New Caledonia: Reef Transplantation Compensates for Habitat Loss in Prony Bay
  13. Fiji: Local Management Helps Reefs at the Namena Marine Reserve
  14. American Samoa: Shipwreck at Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
  15. Line Islands: a Gradient of Human Impact on Reefs
  16. Costa Rica: Reef Life after Bleaching
  17. Mesoamerican Reef: Low Stress Leads to Resilience
  18. Florida: Marine Management Reduces Boat Groundings
  19. Dominican Republic: Protecting Biodiversity, Securing Livelihoods at La Caleta National Marine Park
  20. Tobago: A Sustainable Future for Buccoo Reef
  21. Brazil: Coral Diseases Endanger Reefs
  22. Atlantic and Caribbean: Lionfish Invasion Threatens Reefs