REEFS AT RISK

The report 'Reefs at Risk' assesses the global status of coral reefs, finding that 58% are potentially threatened by human activities. It identifies overexploitation and coastal development as the primary drivers of risk, with Southeast Asia being the most threatened region. The study utilizes a map-based indicator to flag high-risk areas, particularly biodiversity hot spots, and evaluates the current state of marine protected areas (MPAs).

• Approximately 58% of the world's coral reefs are potentially threatened by human activity, with 27% classified as high risk and 31% as medium risk.
• Overexploitation of marine resources and coastal development are the most significant threats, each affecting roughly one-third of all reefs globally.
• Southeast Asia is the most threatened region globally, with over 80% of its reefs at risk and more than half (56%) facing high potential threat.
• The Pacific region contains the largest area of coral reefs and is the least threatened, with approximately 60% of its reefs classified as low risk.
• At least 11% of global coral reefs are 'biodiversity hot spots,' defined as areas with high reef fish species richness that are also under high threat; these are concentrated in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
• Marine protected areas (MPAs) are insufficient in scale and coverage; at least 40 countries have no formal protection for their reefs, and most existing MPAs are smaller than one square kilometer.
• Destructive fishing practices, specifically the use of cyanide to capture live fish for the aquarium and restaurant trades, are widespread across the Indo-Pacific region.

APA

Bryant, D., Burke, L., McManus, J., & Spalding, M. (n.d.). REEFS AT RISK. World Resources Institute. http://pdf.wri.org/reefs.pdf

Chicago

Bryant, Dirk, Lauretta Burke, John McManus, and Mark Spalding. REEFS AT RISK. World Resources Institute, n.d. http://pdf.wri.org/reefs.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bryant |first1=Dirk |last2=Burke |first2=Lauretta |last3=McManus |first3=John |last4=Spalding |first4=Mark |title=REEFS AT RISK |publisher=World Resources Institute |url=http://pdf.wri.org/reefs.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bryantndreefs, author = {Bryant, Dirk and Burke, Lauretta and McManus, John and Spalding, Mark}, title = {{REEFS AT RISK}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {http://pdf.wri.org/reefs.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }