On Saturday, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said that scientists have identified a widespread coral bleaching event on shallow, inshore reefs that were previously considered to be less reactive to climate stress.
These reefs were being observed by the WCS around the Solomon Islands. More specifically, around Marovo Lagoon, including the Zaira Resource Management Area on the western coast of Vangunu Island, and New Georgia Island in Western Province, Solomon Islands.
The bleaching of these corals were first reported in late January, reports Weather.com. This lead to the scientists at WCS organizing a trip to Zaira in February to undertake reef monitoring surveys led by the community rangers within their locally-managed marine area.
The footage received by them this year indicates that the corals in Soloman Island have been responding to increased heat stress, as the water temperatures have risen to 30-degree celsius, even in waters as deep as 25m below sea level.
“It is particularly concerning that very healthy and robust coral reefs in the Solomon Islands, believed to be bright spots in terms of reacting to climate stress, are now showing signs of being affected. This puts more urgency on global leaders going into the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow this year to secure their commitments to reduce emissions to limit global temperature rise,” said Stacy Jupiter, WCS Melanesia Regional Director, reports Weather.com.
