A bold new initiative to galvanise action for coral reef protection has been launched this week at the United Nations Ocean Conference, that begins with a commitment from governments to identify and safeguard climate-resilient coral reefs ecosystems from pressures such as overfishing and marine pollution.

Championed by the Wildlife Conservation Society alongside the Government of Papua New Guinea, WWF, and The Nature Conservancy, the commitment aims to act as the foundation of future reef recovery, biodiversity conservation, and human wellbeing.

The signed commitment pledges governments to identify the climate resilient reefs in national strategies to implement area-based conservation commitments and then enact and enforce the policies to reduce the local pressures being put on these critical ecosystems. This will include addressing destructive fishing, marine pollution, and unsustainable development.

Among the eleven governments now committed to the initiative stands France, Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Palau. Through the commitment, each will work to bring community leadership to the forefront of all plans to ensure strategies are adopted with both equity and local knowledge at their centre.

“Palau is home to some of the most diverse and climate-resilient coral reefs on Earth – ecosystems that are central to our culture, economy, and food security,” said Palau’s President Surangel S Whipps, Jr. “Our reefs host over 400 species of corals and more than 1,300 species of reef fish. We have long worked to protect them, relying on cultural knowledge and practices like the bul and scientific data.”

Be that as it may, these reefs still face the growing threats of climate change and human pressures. The commitment will therefore be a critical tool in ensuring the healthy future of both the coral ecosystems and the communities that rely upon them in the region.

“Palau proudly joins this global commitment to protect climate-resilient coral reefs,” said Whipps Jr. “As a nation on the frontlines of climate change, we know that safeguarding coral reefs is essential not only for biodiversity but for the survival and wellbeing of our people.”

New milestones in global science efforts – led by the Wildlife Conservation Society – sit at the heart of the effort, including its upcoming 50 Reefs+ analysis – a high-resolution global map of climate-resilient coral reef locations worldwide.

Spanning some 8.7 million reef pixels and powered by WCS’ MERMAID platform, this new analysis integrates underwater observations of live hard coral cover and coral life histories with comprehensive climate, environment, and human pressure. 

These maps will be used to help governments, funders, and the private sector make targeted conservation decisions about which coral reefs to prioritise for urgent protection.

“This is more than a commitment – it’s a lifeline for coral reefs and the communities that depend on them,” said Dr Emily Darling, director of Coral Reef Conservation at WCS. ‘We are combining cutting-edge science with real political will to act before these ecosystems pass a point of no return.”

The launch event – held at the United Nations Ocean Conference – also spotlighted early financial and technical support from key partners, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, the Global Environment Facility, and the International Coral Reef Initiative.

The commitment will be registered on the UN Voluntary Commitments Platform and will remain open for additional countries to join ahead of upcoming conferences throughout the rest of the year.

“The Nature Conservancy has been working globally to protect coral reefs for over 40 years and has pioneered approaches to identify climate resilient reefs and get the latest science and tools into the hands of reef managers,” said Dr Lizzie McLeod, global ocean director at The Nature Conservancy. “Leveraging science and partnerships we will continue to work alongside governments, communities, businesses, and partner NGOs like WCS to secure a healthy, resilient future for coral reefs and the communities that depend upon them.”

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