50 Reefs Project: Fiji

50 Reefs Project: Fiji is recognised as having 2 of 50 reefs across the globe identified with the potential to resist and adjust to climate change

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems are seriously threatened by changing conditions in the ocean.

Although many factors are implicated, climate change has emerged as a dominant and rapidly growing threat.

Developing a long-term strategic plan for the conservation of coral reefs is urgently needed yet is complicated by significant uncertainty associated with climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems.

We use Modern Portfolio Theory to identify coral reef locations globally that, in the absence of other impacts, are likely to have a heightened chance of surviving projected climate changes relative to other reefs.

Long-term planning that is robust to uncertainty in future conditions provides an objective and transparent framework for guiding conservation action and strategic investment.

These locations constitute important opportunities for novel conservation investments to secure less vulnerable yet well-connected coral reefs that may, in turn, help to repopulate degraded areas in the event that the climate has stabilized.

50 Reefs Project: Fiji is recognised as having 2 of 50 reefs across the globe identified with the potential to resist and adjust to climate change

Risk-sensitive planning for conserving coral reefs under rapid climate change

50 REEFS MAP

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