This was really interesting. The science is understandable for a lay person. I liked how the author brought he daughter's story into the narrative.

Berwald gave us a flavor of this moving book in her essay “Vanishing: The Bleaching in My Backyard” and in this interview.

I just ordered LIFE ON THE ROCKS by Juli Berwald because our student researchers have expressed significant interest in coral reefs over the past few years. They are concerned about bleaching and the "death" of these natural habitats. As students research efforts to save the reefs, I often notice frustration with the low priority, slow progress, and fragmented approach to this issue. Berwald, who has a doctorate in ocean science from USC, shares these concerns and argues persuasively that "coral reefs have long been disproportionately undervalued and we have gravely underinvested in their health." In fact, she subtitles her new book "Building a Future for Coral Reefs" and looks at actions being pursued in the United States, Indonesia, the Dominican Republic, and Australia. She states that to have success at scale requires a "multipronged effect," combining philanthropy, corporate and government intervention with efforts to "stop burning fossil fuels, manage fishing, and prioritize sanitation." Berwald just contributed an essay titled "Financing a Healthy Future for Coral Reefs" to The Wall Street Journal; it briefly lays out financial innovations like reef insurance, blue bonds, and debt for nature swaps – all designed to help finance maintenance and recovery of marine environments. She begins with the astounding facts that "corals occupy less than 1% of the ocean's habitat but are home to a quarter of all marine species, which provide protein in the form of seafood for up to a billion people globally." Her book perceptively describes the science and complexity of climate change's impact on the reefs while weaving in the personal story of her daughter's struggle with mental health – situations requiring a long-term perspective and immediate action. LIFE ON THE ROCKS contains significant notes to aid our researchers and it received a starred review from Booklist ("Teens interested in marine biology will enjoy Berwald's clear-eyed chronicle").

Wall Street Journal Essay:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/financing-a-healthy-future-for-coral-reefs-11649952196