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A new study led by WCS, University of the South Pacific, and partners has found that coral reefs in Fiji showed remarkable resilience after being battered by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. Despite losing more than half of their hard coral cover on average, reefs rebounded within four years, reassembling to nearly their pre-cyclone condition.

The study, in Coral Reefs, analyzed 18 reef sites across two large barrier reef systems in Fiji before, immediately after, and four years following the cyclone.

Researchers documented a 54% relative loss in hard coral cover in 2016, primarily branching and plating Acropora, and a corresponding increase in rubble and turf algae. By 2020, coral and community composition had recovered significantly, underscoring the resilience of Pacific reefs with high connectivity and strong ecological foundations.

"This study shows that even after catastrophic damage, some reefs can bounce back if local conditions are favorable," said Dr. Amanda Ford, lead author from the University of the South Pacific.

"Our research also shows just how valuable long-term monitoring is for understanding reef resilience. By tracking reefs before, during, and after one of the strongest cyclones on record, we were able to see how coral communities can recover when ecological conditions are strong."

The team used long-term survey data and wave modeling to link reef damage with cyclone exposure. Sites directly in Winston's path lost up to 91% of hard coral cover, while less exposed reefs fared better. Importantly, all sites showed strong signs of recovery by 2020, supported by high levels of herbivorous fish biomass and larval replenishment from surrounding reefs.

Findings show that not all reefs respond equally to extreme events, and that identifying and prioritizing high-integrity, climate-resilient coral reef sites is essential.

"This research is both timely and critically important given that Fiji is currently developing its National Action Plan for Coral Reefs. It sends a powerful message—local communities are essential to the successful management of our coral reefs," said Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai, co-author, Pew Marine Conservation Fellow, and member of the Fiji National Hub for Coral Reef Conservation.

The National Hub brings together expertise from government agencies, local communities, NGOs, and scientists to act as an expert advisory body for government, including the identification of concrete actions to safeguard Fiji's reefs into the future.

"Emerging science from this study can help pinpoint places where conservation investments will have the greatest impacts," said Paul van Nimwegen, WCS Fiji Country Director.

"WCS is proud to be facilitating the development of the country's first National Action Plan for Coral Reef Conservation in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change under the guidance of the National Hub. These new findings reinforce and validate our approach of working hand in hand with government and communities to support ecosystem-based management and marine protected areas that build the resilience of Fiji's reefs."

The lessons from Fiji's recovery are helping to inform broader global strategies for conserving high-integrity climate-resilient coral reefs:

"We are finding more and more examples from both marine and terrestrial realms around the planet where ecosystems that start from high integrity baselines, in terms of having robust structure, function and composition, can withstand and recover even from large climate shocks," said Dr. Stacy Jupiter, co-author and Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Global Marine Program.

"At a time when the news about coral reefs is often doom and gloom, these findings give us hope and cause to continue to invest in coral reef conservation in places we believe stand a strong chance to persist even in a rapidly changing climate."