In response to the global-scale decline in coral reefs and high future risk, recent literature focuses on finding thermal refuges and identifying uniquely resilient species, populations or reefs for targeted restoration and management . Reefs exposed to internal waves , turbidity  or warm-season cloudiness  are expected to be less sensitive to thermal stress. Mesophotic reefs  have also been proposed as thermal refugia , although evidence from recent bleaching events, subsurface temperature records and species overlap is mixed . A study of 2584 reef sites across the Indian and Pacific oceans estimated that 17% had sufficient cover of framework-building corals to warrant protection, 54% required recovery efforts and 28% were on a path to net erosion . There is medium evidence for greater bleaching resistance among reefs subject to temperature variability or frequent heat stress , but with trade-offs in terms of diversity and structural complexity . There is limited agreement about the persistence of thermal tolerance in response to severe heat stress . Recovery and restoration efforts that target heat- resistant coral populations and culture heat-tolerant algal symbionts have the greatest potential of effectiveness under future warming  ; however, there is low confidence that enhanced thermal tolerance can be sustained over time . The effectiveness of active restoration and other specific interventions  are further assessed in Section 3.6.3.3.2.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report