People living near coral reefs may contribute to their degradation if proper steps are not taken to preserve these crucial marine ecosystems, the study concluded.
The world’s coral reefs are under pressure from climate change, overfishing, pollution and coastal development. However, researchers say that people living near coral reefs can help preserve them by reducing their fishing pressure and pollution outputs, and by helping to protect coral reef habitats from further coastal development.
The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, provides the most detailed view to date of human populations living near the world's coral reefs. The researchers used satellite imagery to identify human settlements within 5 meters (16 feet) of coral reefs, and then used census data to estimate the population living in these areas.
They found that the highest densities of people living near coral reefs were found in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. They also found that people living near coral reefs are often among the poorest and most marginalized communities, often relying on the reef for food, income, and shelter.
"Our study shows that people living near coral reefs can directly contribute to their conservation by reducing their dependency on the reef and adopting sustainable practices, as well as advocating for better environmental management policies," said Dr. Christopher Trisos, lead author of the study.
The researchers say that their study provides a baseline for future research to understand how people living near coral reefs can be involved in their conservation and sustainable management.
