Questions that people usually ask when they hear the word “coral reefs” :
Are they plants or animals? Why are their survival so important?
ANSWER:
Coral reefs are enormous structures made of limestone deposited by living things. Although thousands of species inhabit coral reefs, only a fraction produce the limestone that builds the reef. The most important reef-building organisms are the corals.Coral reefs occupy less than 0.1% of the world’s ocean surface yet they are home to 25% of all marine species.
Why are they so important to all?
It is home to more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other plants and animals(around 25% of all known marine species), making it one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth. A coral reef is like a metropolis under the sea.This biodiversity translates directly into food security, income, sources of medicinal advances, coastal barriers to storms and a whole host of other benefits to people and ocean health. It is estimated that one billion people worldwide have some dependence on this natural resource for food and income. This is especially true for people from developing Asian countries where communities are highly dependent on reefs for their livelihoods and are the most vulnerable to the impacts of loss of reef health. However, coral reefs are under threat. Recent research indicates that already one quarter of global reefs are damaged beyond repair. Coral reefs are among the oldest ecosystems on Earth. In the past 50 years, we have been losing 50% of the world coral reefs. As coral reef plays an important part in the ecosystem services, it is important to preserve coral reefs and also find ways to ensure that it will not be depleted in the next 50 years.
It provide humans with recreation, they are a valuable source of organisms for potential medicines, they create sand for beaches.It also provides coastal protection and fisheries to millions of people who depend on it for a living.
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Coral reefs geographical locations
Locations
Coral reefs are usually found in tropical regions and never in cold areas.
Interesting Fact: The largest coral reef that can be found is the Great Barrier Reef which is the northern coast of Australia.
It's like a food chain: Since coral reef provides shelter, depletion of reef means no shelter. No shelter means lesser fish, which leads to a decrease in number of eels and sharks. If it continues, there will be nothing left living there. That is why reefs are important.
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CASE STUDY-Maldives
Basic Conditions to survive
- temperature: no reefs develop where the mean annual temp. of water is below 18oC. Optimal conditions for growth are water temperature of 23 to 29 degrees Celsius
- Water depth: most reefs grow in depths of 25m or less on the border of continents or islands. The depth of the Indian Ocean, which surrounds the Maldives, is favourable.
- SunLight: Sunlight is a requirement for the photosynthesis of algae (zooanthellae) which feed the coral reefs in the Maldives. Therefore shallow water is needed to allow max. light to reach the reefs.
- Salinity(salt content): corals are marine species which are intolerant of water which has less than 30-32psu. They can therefore survive in the saline conditions of the Indian Ocean.
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ECONOMIC VALUE
The Atoll Ecosystem Conservation (AEC) project, implemented by the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment with the support of GEF and UNDP
IMPORTANCE OF THESE SECTORS TO THE ECONOMY
- immensely important role in the national economy.
- “hidden biodiversity values”, the AEC study analysed two of the economic sectors in the Maldives that depend most on coastal and marine biodiversity
- fisheries and tourism are 2 economic sectors that depends on coastal and marine biodiversity.
IMPORTANCE OF THESE SECTORS TO THE ECONOMY - Generate close to 90%of GDP. The results underline the fact that the vast majority of production,consumption, income, employment and trade in the Maldives relies directly on biodiversity.
- Together these two biodiversity based sectors form the mainstays of the national economy,and are the main engines for growth and development.
INDIRECT VALUE OF CORAL REEFS
- Human settlement and production will be affected
- Physical products and raw materials that support income and employment for the locals
- Tourism and fisheries sectors not only rely on the commodities that biological resources and ecosystem provide but also the mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and other natural ecosystems which provide the habitat and breeding grounds for fish and other species, and maintain the productivity of coastlines and oceans
What biodiversity is worth to the National economy eachyear – indirect values
For the 195 inhabited islands of the Maldives, the cost of replacing coral reef shoreline protection services with man-made
infrastructure ranges between Rf 20 billion and Rf 34 billion.(SGD1.63 BILLION-SGD2.76BILLION)
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( Source:http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/policy_briefs_the_economic_value_of_marine_and_coastal.pdf )
Coral reefs’ annual global economic value can add up to anywhere between US$ 29.8-375 billion as they provide ecosystem services to tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. They are the main cause of the existance of small islands and they protect shorelines by absorbing wave energy.
However, due to the constant exposure to threats such as climate change,water pollution and etc, these coral reefs are in danger. According to the environmental group World Wide Fund for Nature, the economic cost over a 25-year period of destroying one kilometer of coral reef is somewhere between $137,000 and $1,200,000 and about six million tons of fish are taken each year from coral reefs.
To improve the management of coastal coral reefs, another environmental group, the World Resources Institute (WRI) created and published tools for calculating the value of coral reef-related tourism, shoreline protection and fisheries, partnering with five Caribbean countries.
CONCLUSION
> In conclusion,it is important to not destroy or exploit coral reef.
- Natural barriers that protect nearby shorelines from the eroding forces of the sea, thereby protecting coastal dwellings, agricultural land and beaches.
- Medicine for cancers,HIV ETC.
- Provide $375 billion per year around the world in goods and services. ->High economic value
- Support a phenomenal diversity of species and provide irreplaceable sources of food and shelter.
- Support a variety of human needs. They are important for subsistence, fisheries, tourism, shoreline protection, and yield compounds that are important in the development of new medicines.
- Provides nutrition. Fisheries such as tuna, dolphin and other pelagic species, rely on the reef indirectly, through the bait fish that they consume.
- Very important in controlling how much carbon dioxide is in the ocean water. This means, if it is destroyed, the life of marine will be at stake because there’ll be lesser oxygen supply and hence, in return it will affect our own kind due to the food chain.
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Thank you very much for your kind attention. Feel free to ask any questions if you have any doubts.
