Global Distribution of Coral Reefs

This dataset shows the global distribution of coral reefs in tropical and subtropical regions. It is the most comprehensive global dataset of warm-water coral reefs to date, acting as a foundation baseline map for future, more detailed, work. This dataset was compiled from a number of sources by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the WorldFish Centre, in collaboration with WRI (World Resources Institute) and TNC (The Nature Conservancy). Data sources include the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project (IMaRS-USF and IRD 2005, IMaRS-USF 2005) and the World Atlas of Coral Reefs (Spalding et al. 2001). Purpose IMaRS-USF was funded by the Oceanography Program of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to provide an exhaustive worlwide inventory of coral reefs using high-resolution satellite imagery, under the framework of the Millenium Coral Reef Mapping Project. As a fully validated Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project product was not available at the global scale, there was a need to create an 'interim' global amalgamated map product. The dataset was hence created to further mobilise the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project products and their validation.