On a remote Australian island, a small patch of reef is as good as scientists have ever seen it – reports Laura Chung and Brook Mitchell of The Sydney Morning Herald.

The coral reef at Lizard Island, 270 kilometres north of Cairns, has been hit by four mass bleaching events in six years. Marine biologists are hopeful about its future, but much scepticism remains about its long-term survival. 

“People are now increasingly aware of climate change and aware that we need to change our attitudes and the way that we do business. And if we can do things quickly enough, we can save the [reef],” she said. “If we were to turn off all climate emissions, now, we’d still face rising temperatures for decades. We’ve got to get over this hump and do our very best to turn them off sooner rather than later. Those 2030 and 2050 goals are too far away. We need to be doing much more, much more quickly.” Dr Anne Hoggett

For the marine biologists at The Lizard Island Research Station, the future of the reef is vital to their work and ensuring the survival of this precious marine ecosystem.

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