US Government Is Accelerating Coral Reef Collapse, Scientists Warn

This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Ritidian Point, at the northern tip of Guam, is home to an ancient limestone forest with panoramic vistas of warm Pacific waters. Stand here in early spring and you might just be lucky enough to witness a breaching humpback whale as they migrate past. But listen and you'll be struck by the cacophony of the island's live-fire testing range.

Widely referred to as the "tip of the spear" in the American arsenal, Guam—which is smaller than New York City but home to a military community of nearly 23,000—is a dichotomy of majestic nature and military might.