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Global Coral Reef Assessment Reveals 9.5% Decline in Hard Coral Cover Since 2009

A comprehensive global assessment of coral reef health, published by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, shows that global hard coral cover has declined by approximately 9.5 percent since the 1980-2009 reference period. The report, which analyzed 21.1 million observations from nearly 37,000 reef sites across 120 countries and territories, identifies climate change-driven heat stress as a primary driver of coral loss. While some regions show resilience, the report highlights a shrinking recovery window for reefs. Historically, major disturbances occurred roughly every ten years, but this interval has shortened to five or six years. This increased frequency of bleaching events leaves corals with less time to grow and rebuild communities between heat waves. Researchers noted that while recovery is possible, the recent fourth global coral bleaching event has reversed previous gains. The report provides data-rich insights to support policy makers and managers in targeting conservation efforts across ten geographic regions worldwide.

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