Coral reefs are in crisis worldwide; a new online portal will help conservation teams protect them
Coral reefs harbour the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem, making them one of the most biologically complex and valuable ecosystems on the planet. These precious ecosytems, which support over half a billion people globally through the provision of food, income, coastal protection and cultural practices, are now in crisis.
The global pressure of climate change, along with local human-induced pressures, are contributing to the rapid deterioration of coral reef ecosystems – jeopardising the lives of the millions of people who rely on these coastal resources.
Despite coral reefs being a vital part of our planet’s life-support system, only 2.5% of the world’s coral reefs are actively protected. To address this urgent challenge, the GEF 7 Coral Reef Rescue (CRR) Project aims to strengthen capacity locally to ensure the long-term survival of climate refuge coral reef ecosystems in Fiji, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Tanzania.
Complementing the work in each country, the GEF 7 CRR project has released free online coral reef courses. These include Coral Reefs: Introduction to Challenges and Solutions, Coral Reefs: Sustainable Blue Economy, Coral Reefs: Data and Monitoring, and Coral Reefs: Climate Resilient Communities. The courses are available in English, Bahasa Indonesia and French.
As part of the Coral Reefs: Data and Monitoring course, participants explore how data supports coral reef management and the importance of communicating results to all partners. The Coral Reef Rescue Portal helps practitioners access relevant data from around the world to support coral reef conservation.
As part of the GEF-7 CRR project, The University of Queensland has developed a publicly available online data platform. The Coral Reef Rescue Portal brings together more than 70 existing coral reef datasets and resources in one easy-to-use platform. Designed to bridge the gap between science and on-the-ground conservation, it connects governments, NGOs, local communities and field operators with curated data and digital tools to support evidence-based decision-making and collaboration.
Melanie Johnson from The University of Queensland, who developed the platform, said:
“This portal will be a valuable tool for coral reef conservation teams around the world to manage, monitor, protect and learn about coral reefs. Conservationists have already highlighted how efficient the portal is for finding existing tools and information, and how useful it will be for reef management.”
By offering insights into the physical, ecological and socio-economic trends affecting climate-resilient coral reefs and connected ecosystems, the portal equips conservation teams with the tools needed to protect these environments.
Practitioners can use the portal to access environmental and socio-economic data related to coral reefs, identify threats, assess reef health, and discover tools for managing coral reef and fish monitoring data.
Key features of the portal
- Resource finder – Answer a few simple questions to receive personalised resources.
- Filter resources – Select filters to match resources to your conservation goals.
- Multiple languages – Explore the portal in English, French or Indonesian.
This innovative tool represents a significant step forward in global efforts to protect coral reefs and support the communities that depend on them.
Jennifer Dunn, Project Manager for the GEF 7 CRR project, said:
“This tool will help teams on the ground connect the latest science with conservation action happening right now. The Coral Reef Rescue Portal collates over 60 open-access tools, databases, and knowledge platforms into a single, user-friendly platform. For the first time, researchers, policy makers, and community practitioners can access the same body of evidence to guide coral reef management. By bringing this information together, the Portal helps turn fragmented knowledge into coordinated action – empowering the marine community to protect reefs more effectively and build resilience across regions most at risk from climate change."
Visit the Coral Reef Rescue Portal
Read the original article published on Coral Reef Rescue Portal News
