January 12, 2026
Marine Animal Forests: Vital Ecosystems Under Threat
BY: Arin Owoturo
Topics: Habitat Protection
Marine animal forests are among the most remarkable and complex ecosystems in the oceans. These three-dimensional habitats are formed by animals that live physically attached to or embedded in the sea floor, creating intricate structures that provide shelter and serve as biodiversity hotspots. Corals, sponges, and bivalves are architects of the ocean, building habitats that resemble forests on land, only these forests grow underwater. These marine animal forests stretch across the globe, from tropical reefs, to icy polar seas, from shallow shores to the deepest ocean floors.
The ecological importance of marine animal forests
Marine animal forests are the ocean’s engineers. They create structure, stabilise the seabed and shape water flow and nutrient cycles. They also lock away carbon, passing it through the web of life that depends on them. In short, these forests are the foundation of ocean health, biodiversity and climate resilience.
The challenges they face
Despite their importance, protection remains inadequate, particularly in European waters. Historical exploitation, such as the harvesting and trade of corals and sponges since the 1950s, has led to their disappearance from entire regions.
Furthermore, human activities have accelerated their decline, with bottom trawling standing out as one of the most destructive practices. This method of fishing involves dragging heavy nets across the seabed, causing severe physical disturbances. The trawling gear crushes corals, sponges, and gorgonian colonies, dismantling the very foundation of these habitats. Overfishing and coral harvesting further compound the problem, stripping ecosystems of essential species and destabilizing their structure.
Climate change adds another layer of stress. Marine heatwaves, driven by rising global temperatures, are pushing these ecosystems to their limits and causing mass deaths worldwide. Many of the species that form marine animal forests are long-lived, meaning recovery from such disturbances could take centuries. Without immediate action, these ecosystems risk irreversible damage.
What can we do?
The Marine Animal Forest Manifesto brings scientists from around the world calling for urgent action to protect, restore, and sustainably manage one of the ocean’s least known yet most important ecosystems: the Marine Animal Forests. Protecting these ecosystems requires concrete steps such as:
- Raise Awareness: Inform communities, policymakers, and stakeholders about the ecological significance of marine animal forests.
- Science-Backed Policy Making: Support initiatives like Natura 2000, designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and invest in habitat mapping.
- Reduce Pressures: Minimize land- and sea-based impacts such as litter, destructive fishing practices, and pollution.
- Protect and Restore: Establish MPAs, enforce stricter protections, and develop restoration plans.
- Innovate: Explore selective breeding of heat-resistant corals to help ecosystems adapt to climate change.
Better management and stricter enforcement of existing protections are essential. Time is running out; these ecosystems are one of a kind. By combining awareness, science, and policy, we can protect these vital habitats and the life they support.
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