Coral Reef Atlas of the World Released

DNA India reported that the coral reefs of the Central Indian Ocean have now been quantified and mapped in the world’s first coral reef atlas, prepared by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.

The atlas, called the ‘Coral Reef Atlas of the World’, also gives a report on the health of different reefs.

It has emerged that Gujarat’s coral reef cover has eroded by 23.2% over the past two decades. One of the main factors cited for this degradation is anthropogenic influence, i.e., impact of human activity.

A detailed assessment of the health of the coral reefs in the Central Indian Ocean is given in the Coral Reef Atlas along with an assessment of the health of the other coral reefs of the world.

The atlas gives an idea of the health of the reefs through maps indicating their extent, distribution and habitat.