The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has launched its 2025–2030 Coral Reef Conservation Strategy, a landmark global framework to protect the world’s most climate-resilient coral reefs. Rooted in more than four decades of field science and conservation experience, the strategy positions high integrity climate-resilient reefs (HICOR) at the center of global action to safeguard marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods.

Coral reefs—covering less than 1 per cent of the ocean yet sustaining more than 25 per cent of marine species and nearly 1 billion people—are biodiversity hotspots and lifelines for coastal communities. But they are also at the frontline of climate change. Half of the world’s live coral is already gone, and the latest bleaching event, the worst on record, has struck over 80 per cent of reefs worldwide.

“The world has likely already crossed 1.5°C of warming, and coral reefs are at a tipping point, but our science shows a clear path forward,” said Dr. Stacy Jupiter, Executive Director of WCS’s Global Marine Program. “Some reefs are defying the odds and have the ability to survive and recover—if we find them and protect them. This strategy is our commitment to act on that evidence.”

At the heart of the new approach are reefs with enough coral cover, species diversity, and reef fish biomass to withstand and recover from climate impacts. These HICOR ecosystems, according to WCS, represent the best hope for the future of coral reefs and the communities that depend on them.

“This strategy is about more than just preventing loss and saving coral reefs,” added Dr. Emily Darling, Director of Coral Reef Conservation at WCS, who led the strategy process. “It’s about building a future where oceans thrive, communities prosper, and hope endures.”

Unlike earlier frameworks that cast the net wide, WCS’s plan zeroes in on scaling what works. Over the next five years, the organization and its partners aim to deliver a new global map of climate-resilient reefs, guiding where global investments should flow. It also seeks to ensure that at least 30 new marine protected areas include HICOR, expand integrated coastal solutions—such as co-managed fisheries and pollution reduction—across 100,000 km² of reef-linked coastlines, and help governments launch five national coral reef action plans that place resilience at the heart of climate and biodiversity policy.

WCS further intends to mobilize 31 countries, representing more than 90 per cent of the world’s reef area, to commit to HICOR protection by COP31 in 2026. On the knowledge front, it will push for global recognition of climate-resilient reefs by generating more than 50 scientific publications and media features, ensuring the concept stays top of mind in climate diplomacy and conservation finance.

“In the face of unprecedented pressures, this strategy renews our focus on resilience,” said Joe Walston, Executive Vice President for Global Conservation at WCS. “By combining cutting-edge science, political action, and the co-creation of local solutions, we are investing in reefs that have the greatest chance of surviving today. These reefs will not only endure but also drive recovery for the oceans and communities of tomorrow.”

WCS operates the world’s largest field-based conservation program, protecting habitats that shelter more than 40 per cent of Earth’s known biodiversity. The Coral Reef Conservation Strategy was co-created with contributions from more than 70 WCS conservation practitioners and supported by long-standing philanthropic partners including the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

By centering resilience science, leveraging partnerships, and aligning reef protection with global climate and biodiversity agendas, WCS is betting on a strategy that could reshape the trajectory of coral reef survival—and with it, the future of marine ecosystems and coastal economies worldwide.