The Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event was confirmed by NOAA in April 2024 with bleaching still occurring in some regions up to six months after the announcement. This event will provide examples of recent bleaching events while also identifying actions and approaches to monitor and mitigate the effects of bleaching and improve the resilience of coral reef ecosystems as part of GBF implementation.
Cuba’s waters are home to four of the world’s most climate-resilient reefs and provide ideal conditions to explore conservation strategies that can offer hope worldwide. This event will showcase current efforts to study and protect Cuba’s coral reefs and examine the importance of this work to global coral reef conservation.
The event will emphasize the importance of protecting coral reefs to safeguard ecosystems and the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Without urgent action, 50-70% of coral reefs could be lost by mid-century, threatening global biodiversity, food security, and coastal protection. This is a critical moment to catalyze action from the 100 coral reef nations.
