A new report, Ocean Science Roadmap for UNESCO Marine World Heritage, reveals that 75% of Marine World Heritage sites lack knowledge on how to protect themselves against climate change. Therefore, UNESCO calls for an investment in science.
As stressed in the summary of the report: “Marine World Heritage sites face a critical moment in time and we must act now. By developing this roadmap within the framework of the Ocean Decade, we have the chance to generate ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’ and preserve Marine World Heritage sites and their services for future generations. This roadmap seeks to offer that help, by showing managers, supporters, and funders how science and research can be more cost-effectively directed to some of the most pressing problems. Together we can steer a path to a resilient and sustainable future, for the next decade and beyond.”