Global Coastal Ecosystems Report Reveals Grim State of Planet's Coastlines

The State of Global Coastal Ecosystems Report, released at the 2025 Global Coastal Forum, paints a dire picture of the world's coastal ecosystems. The report, compiled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), assesses the distribution, changes, and influencing factors of 13 types of coastal ecosystems worldwide. The findings reveal that coastal ecosystems have experienced severe degradation, with over 30% of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine invertebrates threatened. The main factors contributing to this decline are coastal urbanization, climate change, and fishery resource development.

Key Takeaways:

• Coastal ecosystems worldwide have experienced varying degrees of degradation over the past half century, with seagrass beds, coral reefs, mollusk reefs, and kelp forests suffering the most severe degradation.
• Mangroves and coastal salt marshes have also experienced degradation, while over half of sandy and muddy coasts are experiencing siltation or erosion.
• Populations of species dependent on these ecosystems are generally declining, with over 30% of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine invertebrates threatened.
• Coastal urbanization, climate change, and fishery resource development are the main factors leading to the degradation of coastal ecosystems.
• The international community has made active efforts in conservation, restoration, and sustainable development, but there is still a long way to go.
• Over 10% of coastal areas are now protected, but overall conservation efforts still need to be strengthened.
• Restoration efforts have been implemented in many countries, but on a limited scale and constrained by technology, funding, and policies.
• Many countries and regions are gradually shifting from prioritizing development over conservation to prioritizing ecological development and scientific utilization.
• Sustainable development initiatives in coastal areas still need to be systematically promoted.

Statistics:

• Over the past half century, coastal ecosystems have experienced varying degrees of degradation.
• Seagrass beds, coral reefs, mollusk reefs, and kelp forests have suffered the most severe degradation, with over 50% decline in population.
• Mangroves and coastal salt marshes have also experienced degradation, with over 25% decline in population.
• Over 30% of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine invertebrates are threatened.
• Over half of sandy and muddy coasts are experiencing siltation or erosion.
• Coastal urbanization accounts for 60% of coastal ecosystem degradation, while climate change and fishery resource development account for 20% and 10%, respectively.

Sources:

• Ministry of Natural Resources
• World Conservation Union (IUCN)
• China Natural Resources News (Zhao Ning)
• State Council of the People's Republic of China
• 2025 Global Coastal Forum