Chapter 6. Conclusions and recommendations

The coral reefs of the Caribbean, a mainstay of the region’s economic and social health, are beset by a wide range of threats resulting from human activities. Degradation of coral reefs damages not only the integrity of these important ecosystems but also the health, safety, and livelihoods of the human societies that depend on them. Although the potential human and economic losses are great, actions to reverse the threats to Caribbean coral reefs can often be undertaken at very low cost, with very high financial and societal returns, even in the short term.

Actions are required across a range of scales