Center for Biodiversity Outcomes adjunct professor Beth Polidoro, who leads the ASU-IUCN partnership and coordinates the IUCN Species Survival Commission Coral Specialist Group, featured in a video from the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) series focusing on coral reef ecosystems. The RLE aims to classify ecosystems using the same scientific rigor as the species Red List, providing a framework recognizable by governments and policymakers worldwide—cooperation among nations is essential to reverse the alarming trends.
In November 2024, the coral specialist group finished the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessment for all reef-building corals and found 44% of the world’s reef-building coral species are now at elevated risk of extinction. Many coral species are declining faster than they can recover, signaling an ecological crisis. Loss of coral species threatens the structure and function of entire reef ecosystems. Coral reefs support fisheries (providing habitat for fish and food security for humans), coastal protection (acting as natural barriers), and economic value through tourism and ecosystem services. A continued decline may lead to a collapse in reef productivity, leading to fewer fish, less income, and reduced ecosystem services. The group warns of reaching an irreversible tipping point.
A workshop in Bangkok brought together leading global coral experts to establish a standardized methodology to red list coral reef ecosystems instead of just coral species as part of the IUCN RLE. They hope to identify drivers of change and provide early warnings of ecosystem decline or collapse.
The global coral reef assessment will be based on four key criteria:
- Loss of coral reef area over the past 50 years.
- Changes in geographic distribution of coral reefs.
- Environmental degradation, particularly ocean warming impacts.
- Condition of key biological components (e.g., coral species, fish, invertebrates).
The findings are intended to guide national and regional policies, setting priorities for reef protection and restoration. Long-term success requires multidisciplinary collaboration among scientists, governments, and civil society; data-driven policy; and a global commitment to conservation.
