The Wildlife Conservation Society edition of coral bleaching

Coral Bleaching

Mass coral bleaching events, driven by unusually warm sea temperatures, have now affected every major coral reef ecosystem on the planet. Indonesia was last hit by mass bleaching event in 1997-1998, in which mortality reached up to 90% in some places [1]. The effects of coral bleaching are pervasive and potentially devastating to ecosystems and the people who depend upon them. With predced increased frequency and severity of bleaching as temperatures continue to warm under a global regime of climate change, and stresses imposed by humans, coral reefs are under unprecedented pressure. Understanding the effects and implications of coral bleaching, and identifying strategies to reduce stress and mitigate impacts, are urgent challenges for the conservation and management of coral reefs in Indonesia and worldwide.

Recognizing and responding to these threat requires establish a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to safeguard Indonesia`s marine biodiversity and protect local livelihoods. It is critical to understand the impacts of climate change in order to most effectively design MPAs in areas which are potentially most resistant and resilient to these impacts.