Wells,-S.M. 1992. Human impact on Pacific reefs today: Priorities for conservation in an era of global climate change. PAC.-SCI. 1992. vol. 46, no. 3, p. 382.

Coral reefs in the Pacific region have come under increasing pressure in recent years from impacts associated with a variety of human activities. An overview of the major problems is given. These may seem to be small scale in the context of potential long-term changes on reefs from climate changes. Nevertheless, they may be significant. Human-induced damage to reefs exacerbates damage caused by natural events such as hurricanes, predator outbreaks, and disease, and impairs regeneration. Reefs with lowered diversity, topography, and living cover result in reduced fishery yields and potentially reduced income from recreational activities. With many Pacific countries dependent on reef resources for subsistence or income, and with the expansion of the tourist industry in this region, the importance of maintaining healthy reefs becomes self-evident. Furthermore, healthy reefs may be able to withstand the negative impact of global warming more successfully than reefs under stress from other factors. Conservation priorities in the region are discussed in this long-term context.