What are the importance of coral reefs?

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species.

Why are coral reefs so important to the world economy?

Healthy coral reefs contribute to fishing and tourism, providing millions of jobs and contributing to economies all over the world. Scientists develop important drugs from coral reef organisms as treatments for cancer, arthritis, and viruses. But corals are threatened by pollution and climate change.

What is the importance of coral reefs in the Philippines?

Aside from supporting fisheries production, coral reefs provide multiple ecosystem services that contribute indirectly to food and livelihood security of coastal communities in the Philippines and elsewhere (i.e. increasing the purchasing power of coastal communities).

What is the most important reason to continue efforts to preserve coral reefs?

Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater protect coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people.

What is the value of coral?

Coral reefs are structures created by coral animals and are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. They provide goods and services worth at least US$11.9 trillion per year and support (through such activities as fisheries and tourism) at least 500 million people worldwide.

What is coral reef ecosystem?

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.

What is the significance and origin of coral reefs?

Coral reefs first appeared 485 million years ago, at the dawn of the Early Ordovician, displacing the microbial and sponge reefs of the Cambrian. Sometimes called rainforests of the sea, shallow coral reefs form some of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems.