As COP29 unfolds in Baku, Azerbaijan, with world leaders engaged in critical discussions on climate finance, a groundbreaking discovery in the Solomon Islands serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for urgent action.
A team of scientists aboard the National Geographic Pristine Seas research vessel in the Southwest Pacific recently found the world’s largest known coral, a sprawling structure over 34 meters wide and 32 meters long.
Believed to be between 300 and 500 years old, this colossal coral, identified as Pavona clavus, has grown uninterrupted, indicating the richness and resilience of ocean ecosystems, but also highlights their vulnerability in the face of climate change.
The discovery, made in the remote Three Sisters Island group, highlights both the beauty and the vulnerability of coral ecosystems.
Enric Sala, Executive Director of Pristine Seas, expressed the urgency of protecting such rare ecosystems.
“Today, as we speak, countries are discussing climate finance at COP29.
“This discovery reinforces the need for rich countries to invest significantly in reducing carbon emissions to combat threats like ocean warming and acidification.
“We still have time, but we need to act quickly and protect 30 percent of the ocean so it can continue being our life support system,” Sala said.
“Seeing a big coral like this is a reminder that we need to protect these vulnerable ocean areas,” said Eric Brown, a leading global coral expert with Pristine Seas.
“Coral reef ecosystems comprise only about 0.2 percent of the ocean, yet they’re home to over 25 percent of marine species. This incredible biodiversity is essential for the food, economic stability, and coastal protection of more than 100 countries.
“These coral reef environments, however, are under threat and they’re very vulnerable ecosystems. It’s important for us to do whatever we can to protect these environments that are both small, but yet mighty,” stressed Brown.
Molly Timmers, Head of Science on the Solomon Islands expedition for Pristine Seas, detailed the immediate threats to coral reefs, emphasising the role of local overfishing, pollution, and global warming.
She compared reefs to a garden: “Overfishing disrupts the balance, like removing vital gardeners. Parrotfish, for example, prevent algae overgrowth. Without these species, corals can be smothered by algae. Local pollution from agriculture and urban runoff further suffocates these ecosystems, while excess ocean heat causes corals to bleach and die.”
Global warming and the intensifying frequency of storms have added to the strain, Timmers added.
“Corals provide economic and sustainable resources for us, yet they are degrading at an alarming rate. If they continue to disappear, we lose not only biodiversity but essential sources of food and coastal protection.”
The world has made strides toward ocean conservation, yet only 8.4 percent of the ocean is protected, far short of the 30 percent target set for 2030.
“We need customary efforts. Efforts at the government level to protect key areas within the exclusive economic zones of countries,” Sala said.
“This is possible because there are a dozen countries that have already protected 30 percent of their waters or more before 2030.
“We’re seeing leadership from countries like Niue, Palau, and Colombia, which have protected significant portions of their waters. There is no reason why the rest of the world cannot do it.”
As the ocean’s rainforests, coral reefs absorb carbon, support marine biodiversity, and offer food and jobs to millions of people.
With the Solomon Islands boasting over 490 coral species, their survival is now a rallying point at COP29, where leaders must decide how to channel resources to safeguard these underwater ecosystems.
As the Pristine Seas team continues its expedition, using deep-sea cameras, environmental DNA sampling, and cutting-edge technology to understand and protect the Solomon Islands’ marine ecosystems, they’re hoping their findings will inspire the global community.
