ICRS Conservation Committee
Climate change remains the primary stressor affecting coral reefs worldwide. The ICRS Conservation and Policy Committee aims to represent the Society and advocate for coral reefs by highlighting the urgency of addressing these threats.
Following the Society’s active engagement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), where measures to limit global warming were promoted, the ICRS Council approved the formation of a formal Conservation Committee to address key conservation issues. In 2024, the Committee successfully secured recognition of ICRS as a UN Ocean Decade–endorsed action. The Committee has also been renamed from the Conservation Committee to the Conservation and Policy Committee to better reflect the full scope of its activities.
In 2021, ICRS obtained observer status with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). That same year, the Conservation and Policy Committee organized a delegation of ICRS members to attend COP26. Since then, ICRS has maintained an active presence, organizing events and participating in COP27, COP28, COP29, and COP30. The Committee has also contributed to broader global initiatives, including the UN Ocean Decade Conference, the UN Ocean Conference, and the CBD COP16.
Beyond climate advocacy, the Committee plays a broader role in advancing coral reef conservation and management. Its work includes promoting the dissemination of scientific knowledge to inform policy and practice, contributing expertise to publications and global assessments, ensuring conservation issues are integrated into ICRS and related meetings, and engaging with international bodies to provide scientific input into global decision-making processes. The Committee also supports major conservation initiatives and serves as a bridge between science, policy, and implementation to improve reef outcomes worldwide .
Increasingly, the Committee is engaged in addressing policy and permitting challenges related to coral reef conservation and restoration, recognizing that regulatory frameworks play a critical role in enabling—or constraining—the implementation of effective conservation actions.
Any member interested in joining the Committee, participating in its activities, or proposing a reef-related conservation issue is encouraged to contact the Committee Chair (Mariana Rocha de Souza mrds@hawaii.edu). Please note that, due to limitations in time and resources, the Committee may not be able to address every issue brought forward.
