尽管海洋热浪加速了珊瑚的白化与灭绝，威胁到全球数亿人的生计与四分之一的海洋生物，但这项研究表明并非所有珊瑚礁都无可挽救。部分珊瑚礁因位于海洋中的罕见低温区，或由大型分枝状与板状珊瑚主导，又或是石珊瑚已适应热压力，因而展现出更强的韧性。
然而，在预测能够于高温世界中存活的珊瑚礁中，目前只有不到三分之一受到保护措施的覆盖。这份由国际野生生物保护学会（WCS）与麦觉理大学发表的研究强调，现在是动员行动以保护这些关键珊瑚礁的黄金契机。
According to new global research, some coral reef ecosystems have a far greater chance of surviving and recovering from the effects of climate change than previously understood. The study found that about 166,000 square kilometers of coral reefs across 71 countries have the capacity to withstand or recover, with roughly 60% located in Australia, the Bahamas, Cuba, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Although marine heatwaves have triggered an accelerating pattern of coral bleaching and extinction, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people and a quarter of marine life, this research shows that not all reefs are beyond saving. Some reefs are better positioned because they are located in rare cool spots in the oceans, dominated by heat-resistant corals, or show faster recovery capabilities.
However, less than a third of the reefs forecast to remain resilient in a hotter world are currently protected by conservation measures. This report, presented by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Macquarie University, emphasizes that there is now a critical opportunity to mobilize necessary actions to protect these resilient reefs.