From 7 to 13 February 2026, the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network brought together editors and regional coordinators in Bangkok, Thailand, to advance work on the forthcoming Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025 report.
Hosted by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), as the host intimation of the GCRMN, the week combined focused editorial sessions with a broader regional workshop. The opening days were dedicated to the core editorial team, refining structure, reviewing data integration processes, and aligning approaches across chapters. This was followed by a three day workshop bringing together representatives from across the Network’s ten regions to strengthen coordination, ensure consistency in analysis, and reinforce shared standards for reporting. The week concluded with further editorial discussions to consolidate progress and prepare the next production stages.
Strong regional representation
Participants represented 9 of the 10 GCRMN regions including Australia, Brazil, the Caribbean, East Asia, Eastern Tropical Pacific, the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) Sea Area, the Pacific, South Asia, and the Western Indian Ocean. Representing the regions was a wealth of expertise, including those from Editorial Team, with representation from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Blue Pangolin Consulting, CORDIO East Africa, Coral Reef Alliance, Instituto Recifes Costeiros, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Marepolis, National Parks Board Singapore, New York University Abu Dhabi, South Asia Co operative Environment Programme (SACEP), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco e Pro Coral, Universidad del Valle, Cali, University of the South Pacific (USP), WCS Fiji Program. This diversity of regional leadership and scientific expertise reflects the strength of the GCRMN as a truly global partnership grounded in regional ownership.
The Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025
The 2025 global report will draw on the most comprehensive dataset ever assembled by the GCRMN, reflecting contributions from hundreds of scientists and institutions worldwide. Building on decades of coral reef monitoring, the report aims to provide a robust, transparent and policy relevant assessment of the status and trends of the world’s coral reefs.
While the report remains under development, the Bangkok meeting marked a significant milestone in its preparation. Bringing together technical experts from diverse regions helped ensure that regional perspectives are fully reflected in the global synthesis, and that the report is grounded in rigorous science and collective ownership across the Network.
Beyond the technical work, the week underscored the enduring importance of coordinated global monitoring. Coral reefs support the food security, coastal protection, cultural heritage and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. At a time of accelerating environmental change, maintaining a credible and collaborative global evidence base is essential to inform effective management and international policy.
The Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025 report is expected to be launched in 2026. Further updates will be shared through the GCRMN website and channels in the coming months.
The GCRMN extends its sincere thanks to the Australian Institute of Marine Science for coordinating and hosting the workshop, and for its financial support. We also gratefully acknowledge the continued financial support of the Government of Monaco and the MSC Foundation, alongside key supports of the GCRMN, whose sustained commitment enables the Network to deliver global coral reef assessments of this scale and importance.
The production of the “Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025” report is supported with voluntary financial contributions from:
