Coral reefs are the most ecologically diverse ecosystems in the ocean. They not only provide the home for numerous marine life to live, reproduce, and feed , but also contain biological and non-biological resources that provide the ecological service for the development of human civilization. However, the global coral reef has been seriously degraded in the face of long-term impacts due to overfishing, habitat destruction and marine pollution. The effects of climate change, such as seawater warming, typhoon enhancement, sea level rise, and ocean acidification caused by the dissolving of carbon dioxide into the water, are more likely to accelerate coral reefs to decline. According to the latest IPCC's 1.5°C special report and the special report on oceans and cryosphere, if the global average temperature rises by 20°C by 2050 (compared to the pre-industrial level), 99% of coral reefs will disappear in the ocean. But if the temperature can be controlled within 1.5°C, then 10% to 30% of the global coral reef can survive. Therefore, in addition to the comprehensive rapid reduction of greenhouse gases, reaching the goal of zero CO2 emissions by 2050, more regional and local actions are necessary to ensure that the coral reef ecosystem can be sustainable.

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This workshop invites coral reef researchers from the United States, Philippines, and Vietnam to conduct data and experience sharing, and develop future regional cooperation on coral reef resilience research in facing the changing climate. In order to understand the coral reef resilience, population genetic approach is taken to examine how corals and reef-associated organisms are interdependent among the coral reefs and to identify the thermal-tolerant reefs, species, genotypes or strains in the West Pacific including South China Sea/ West Philippines/ East Sea. The information can be provided to identify coral reefs prioritized for conservation investment, such as design of MPA resisted to climate change, livelihood transformation of fishermen, and re-seeding sources after sea temperature is stabilized. On the other hand, coral reef governance through multidisciplinary integration, such as ecosystem, environmental, social-ecological, and social-economic approaches should be taken to assist local community to develop the resilience-based management for coral reef in facing the changing climate. Both subjects will be the themes of this regional workshop.