The reefs have shown unusual resilience to bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures, making them globally significant. The International Union for Conservation of Nature nominated the reserve alongside four other natural sites for long-term protection.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: LI FEI;

The other nominated sites include Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark’s Western Limfjord, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in the United States and South Korea’s Getbol tidal flats. Conservation experts said the nominations highlight ecosystems that could improve understanding of climate resilience while supporting globally important biodiversity.