novembro, 17 2025
By WWF
Amid alarming data on the bleaching and death of coral reefs—an effect of the global climate crisis that brings the planet closer to a point of no return—the conservation and restoration of Brazilian corals is gaining strength from a new front of civil society organizations and the private sector. The Brazil Coral Coalition was launched by The Boticário Foundation of Nature Protection and WWF-Brazil during an event on November 17th, as part of the COP30 program in Belém (PA).
Recognizing the importance of corals for biodiversity, for protecting cities and communities from extreme climate events, for food security, economic activities, and the balance of the planet, the initiative brings together multisector actors dedicated to protecting this ecosystem. “With the Coalition, we want to integrate and enhance efforts with a focus on concrete and lasting impact. In this way, we aim to expand results, influence public policies, propel innovative solutions, create sustainable financing mechanisms, and elevate Brazil’s leadership on the global coral conservation agenda,” says Malu Nunes, Executive Director of the Boticário Group Foundation.
The Brazilian initiative also brings together other national institutions that work with corals in Brazil, such as the Coastal Reefs Institute (IRCOS), Conservation International Brazil (CI-Brasil), the National Commission for Strengthening Marine Extractive Reserves and Coastal Marine Traditional Peoples (CONFREM), and AquaRIO. “This alliance is born with a collective and horizontal vision to ensure representation and agility. We advocate for solutions that unite science, the rights of traditional peoples and communities, sustainability, and socio-environmental justice. We want to transform corals into a symbol of climate resilience, ocean culture, and a future for the next generations,” explains Mauricio Voivodic, Executive Director of WWF-Brazil.
Aligned with the principles of the global call to action for corals, The Coral Breakthrough, launched at COP28 and linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) action agenda, the Brazil Coral Coalition will dedicate its efforts to the conservation, restoration, and valorization of coral reefs in Brazil. The initiative will work in line with international goals. These include mitigating threats to coral ecosystems—such as land-based pollution, unplanned coastal development, and overfishing; expanding protected areas; supporting innovative restoration solutions, with a global target of restoring 30% of degraded reefs by 2030; and mobilizing public and private resources for coral conservation.
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs occupy less than 0.1% of the ocean floor but play an essential ecological role, providing shelter and food for about 25% of marine species. However, rising ocean temperatures and the degradation of these ecosystems increase coastal vulnerability to swells and erosion, particularly during extreme climate events, causing significant material and immaterial losses.
“One of the main threats to coral reefs is planetary warming and the consequent rise in ocean temperatures—a highly relevant topic in the context of COP30. We must act urgently to protect these environments strategically and in a coordinated way,” says Malu, noting that coral reefs provide Brazil with up to R$167 billion in coastal protection and tourism services, according to the study Ocean Without Mysteries: Unveiling Coral Reefs (2023).
Since March 2023, ocean temperatures have risen between 0.3°C and 0.5°C—enough to put corals at risk. The phenomenon, described as “Blue Fever,” has also worsened extreme events such as hurricanes and floods. According to the Global Tipping Points 2025 report released on October 13th, warm-water coral reefs are undergoing an almost irreversible collapse (the planet’s first global climate point of no return) due to global warming. The consequences affect thousands of people who depend directly or indirectly on these ecosystems, while also threatening many marine species.
Among the regions with the highest rates of coral reefs affected by the marine heatwave is Northeastern Brazil, home to the only reef environments in the South Atlantic, stretching about 3,000 kilometers along the coast.
About The Boticário Group Foundation
With 35 years of history, The Boticário Foundation of Nature Protection is one of Brazil’s leading corporate foundations dedicated to conserving the country’s natural heritage. With a focus on society’s adaptation to climate change—particularly regarding water security and coastal protection—the institution works to ensure that biodiversity conservation becomes a priority across all sectors. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it considers nature the foundation for the country’s social and economic development.
A nonprofit organization funded by The Boticário Group, The Foundation helps mobilize diverse actors in the search for solutions to major environmental, social, and economic challenges. It has supported more than 1,800 initiatives across all Brazilian biomes. It protects two nature reserves in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado—the biomes most threatened by deforestation—totaling 11,000 hectares, equivalent to 70 Ibirapuera Parks. With 1.4 million followers on social media, it also seeks to bring nature closer to people’s everyday lives. The institution was inspired by Miguel Krigsner, founder and chairman of the Boticário Group Board, and was created in 1990, two years before Rio-92, the Earth Summit that marked a turning point for global environmental conservation.
About WWF-Brazil
WWF-Brazil is a Brazilian NGO that has worked for 29 years, collectively with civil society partners, academia, governments, and companies across the country, to combat socio-environmental degradation and defend life—both human and natural. We are connected through an interdependent network seeking urgent solutions to the climate emergency. Home | WWF Brasil
