This document explains the underlying science and assumptions of natural infrastructure for water, describes data layers and information, documents data sources, and details the methodology used to generate watershed risk scores in Global Forest Watch Water. All data and maps are publicly available.
Roughly 75 percent of the Caribbean's coral reefs are threatened--with more than 30 percent ranking in the "high" or "very high" threat category. But one reef system in Cuba, Jardines de la Reina (the "Gardens of the Queen"), offers great lessons—and hope—for effective coral reef management.
Development along the coast threatens almost 25 percent of the world’s reefs, of which more than 10 percent face a high threat.
More than one-quarter of the world’s reefs are threatened by watershed-based pollution (including nutrient fertilizers, sediment, pesticides, and other polluted runoff from the land), with about 10
At present, local human activities (overfishing and destructive fishing, marine-based pollution and damage, coastal development, and watershed-based pollution) threaten an estimated 60 percent of the
Mapping of past thermal stress on coral reefs (1998–2007) suggests that almost 40 percent of reefs may have been affected by thermal stress, meaning they are located in areas where water temperature
Reefs at risk from overfishing and destructive fishing.
Unsustainable fishing is the most pervasive of all local threats to coral reefs.
Marine-based sources of pollution and damage threaten approximately 10 percent of reefs globally, with only about 1 percent at high threat.
Globally, more than 60 percent of the world’s coral reefs (about 150,000 sq km of reef) are threatened by local activities (overfishing and destructive fishing, marine-based pollution and damage, co
This figure provides a summary of the four individual local threats (overfishing and destructive fishing, marine-based pollution and damage, coastal development, and watershed-based pollution) and the
Approximately 370 observations of coral bleaching were reported globally between 1980 and 1997, while more than 3,700 were reported between 1998 and 2010.
The world’s coral reefs cover an area of approximately 250,000 sq km, with the highest concentrations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
One-eighth of the world’s population—roughly 850 million people—live within 100 km of a coral reef and are likely to derive some benefits from the ecosystem services that coral reefs provide.
The assessment of the adaptive capacity of countries and territories to reef loss is based on economic resources, education, health, governance, access to markets, and agricultural resources.
Proceeds from this event will benefit Ocean Inspiration: A tribute to Jacques Cousteau's 100th anniversary.
Coral reefs and mangroves in Belize.