---
id: kb-2026-00456
title: Coral Reefs
schema_type: TechArticle
category: science
language: en
confidence: medium
last_verified: '2026-05-28'
created_date: '2026-05-22'
generation_method: ai_structured
ai_models:
  - claude-opus
derived_from_human_seed: true
conflict_of_interest: none_declared
is_live_document: false
data_period: static
atomic_facts:
  - id: fact-coral-reefs-1
    statement: NOAA states that coral reefs are home to millions of species.
    source_title: 'NOAA: Coral Reef Species'
    source_url: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_species.html
    confidence: medium
  - id: fact-coral-reefs-2
    statement: >-
      UNESCO describes the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage property of outstanding universal
      value.
    source_title: 'UNESCO: Great Barrier Reef'
    source_url: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154
    confidence: medium
  - id: fact-coral-reefs-3
    statement: >-
      The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network published Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020 as
      a global coral-reef assessment.
    source_title: 'GCRMN: Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2020'
    source_url: https://gcrmn.net/2020-report/
    confidence: medium
completeness: 0.86
known_gaps:
  - This compact article intentionally covers a small, source-mapped slice of a broader topic.
disputed_statements: []
primary_sources:
  - title: 'NOAA: Coral Reef Species'
    type: government_report
    year: 2024
    url: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_species.html
    institution: NOAA National Ocean Service
  - title: 'UNESCO: Great Barrier Reef'
    type: world_heritage_record
    year: 2026
    url: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154
    institution: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  - title: 'GCRMN: Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2020'
    type: government_report
    year: 2021
    url: https://gcrmn.net/2020-report/
    institution: Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
secondary_sources: []
updated: '2026-05-28'
---

## TL;DR

Coral reefs are biodiverse marine ecosystems built by corals and exposed to climate, pollution, and local human pressures.

## Core Explanation

Coral reefs are biologically dense marine ecosystems and culturally significant places. Public evidence for reef claims is strongest when it points to scientific agencies, heritage records, and global monitoring assessments.

## Further Reading

- [NOAA: Coral Reef Species](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_species.html)
- [UNESCO: Great Barrier Reef](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154)
- [GCRMN: Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2020](https://gcrmn.net/2020-report/)