The Endangered Coral Reef Ecosystem - Essay Example

The Endangered Coral Reef Ecosystem The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Tubattaha Reef in Palawan, Philippines are just two of the biggest and prized coral reefs in the world. In the global conservation efforts, they are considered flagships in the area of marine conservation. One might ask, what is the significance of these coral reefs to warrant such global attention these days. The answers lay on the growing awareness on the rich diversity these coral reefs harbor within itself and the threat they currently face in human hands. Biological Structure Scientifically, reefs are categorized as sandbars or rocks underneath the surface of water although they are shallow enough to damage ships. There are two kinds of reefs: the abiotic – reefs, which were formed through deposition of sand, wave erosion planning down, rock outcrops, and other natural processes; and, biotic – reefs where the corals and calcareous algae belong. A corals reef is a skeleton of materials, mainly large biogenic formations of calcium carbonate deposited by the reefs inhabitants such as algae, hermatypic corals and other marine organisms. These deposits are gradually accumulated through generations as debris and/or are knitted together by the continued growth of the attached forms living on the reef.1 In reef building, the corals are the main architects, with some beginning from as small as a single polyp which could eventually extend to hundreds of meters in diameter. The global aggregate area covered by the coral reefs is estimated to be 284,300 square kilometers, of which more than 70% are located in the Pacific. 2 Sanctuary It has been said that coral reefs are among the most productive communities on Earth,3 rivaling even the tropical rainforests in supporting and nurturing an extraordinary amount of biodiversity in the seas. Spalding et al. place the number of tropical fishes inhabiting the coral reefs to around 4,000 species. Besides these, other organisms important in maintaining a healthy and balanced marine life seek refuge and thrive in these marine ecosystems. The contribution of the coral reef as a sanctuary to life under the sea does not end there, for it has also a direct impact on human lives. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), for instance, has this to say: “They provide a critical source of food for millions of people. Encircling tropical islands, they provide protection from the worst ravages of tropical storms. They have also become a beloved destination for those seeking solace on tropical shores, or adventure, diving into the world of the coral reef, whilst providing a new source of income and employment for some of the worlds most impoverished nations.” On a more specific note, let us take the example of Southeast Asia on how its countries benefit from the coral reefs: The potential economic value of well-managed coral reefs in Southeast Asia is estimated at 42.5% of the global total of US$29.8 billion attributed to coral reef values. The potential value of coral reef fisheries is 38.5% of the global total of US$5.7 billion, while the potential value of tourism is 50% of the global total of US$9.6 billion. This reflects the continued high dependence of Southeast Asian countries on coral reefs for food security and increasing tourism-related revenue. (Tun, pp. 301) Destruction The alarming depletion of coral reefs in Indonesia and the Philippines between the 1980s and 1990s catapulted the coral reef destruction to global attention. For instance, data collected from Indonesia – a home to a third of world’s corals – state that only 6 percent of the country’s coral reefs are in excellent condition, with the rest bordering from good to fair to completely damaged coral colonies. This figure is roughly the same as in the Philippines, a developing country with rampant destructive fishing and unregulated tourism. According to experts, if the collective factors endangering the coral reefs would remain unchecked, as much as 70% of the world’s coral reef will be depleted in the next 20-45 years.4 The UNEP claimed that this has a huge toll on a country development especially if its economy is heavily reliant on the fishing industry. While environmental conditions contribute to the destruction of coral reefs, such as climate change, the damages are mostly anthropogenic or human-caused. The leading causes include but not limited to: damaging fishing practices, pollution and sediments brought about by land-based development. Fishing practices Until recently, damaging fishing practices such as cyanide and dynamite fishing are rampant in developing countries from countries in Southeast Asia to Mexico. The coral reefs provide rich fishing grounds, but the global demand in the fishing industry is so huge that fishermen have to resort to extremely destructive fishing methods to catch a large volume of fish. Unfortunately, these practices claim the life not only of the fish but the corals and other reef animals within range. Where once meadows of corals abound, lie seemingly deserts of sands underwater in badly hit areas. Land Development Land-based development also claims a huge share in the death of coral colonies. The pollution that comes along with progress is a big factor in environmental problems such as climate change and ocean acidification. These two environmental phenomena adversely affect the survival of the coral reefs. Also, mangrove-systems are continually being wiped out by the construction of roads, buildings, ports and other coastal infrastructure. Mangrove forests absorb the sediments and pollution caused by land-based development and without them, the balance of the marine ecosystem where corals can thrive is seriously disturbed as nutrients and sedimentary runoff flow freely towards the sea. We are reminded that “over the past two centuries our oceans have absorbed [already] more than 400 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.” (Langdon) Rehabilitation Sadly, it took miles and miles of dead coral reefs before everyone started to take notice. At present, due to an increase in awareness on the endangered coral reef systems and its repercussions, legislations in concerned countries have been enacted while projects were launched on a global scale to protect those virgin coral reefs and rehabilitate those that were damaged. Several coral colonies have also been declared as protected areas and subject to strict government monitoring. It is seriously hoped that with the concept of sustainable development, the reefs could coexist with progress. Bibliography “An introduction to Coral Reefs” University of the Virgin Islands. 21 June 2006 “Coral Reef,” Wikipedia 21 June 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef “Coral Reefs of the Tropics.” The Nature Conservancy. 22 June 2006 http://www.nature.org/joinanddonate/rescuereef/ Langdon, Chris. “Coral Reefs in Peril.” Miami Herald. 21 June 2006 Spalding, Mark, Corinna Ravilious, and Edmund Green. “World Atlas of Coral Reefs.” Berkeley, CA: University of California Press and UNEP/WCMC. 2001. Tun, K., et al. “Status of Coral Reefs, Coral Reef Monitoring and Management in Southeast Asia, 2004” p: 235-276. in C. Wilkinson (ed.). Status of coral reefs of the world: 2004. Volume 1. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. p. 301 “World Atlas of Coral Reefs.” UNEP-WCMC. 2006. 21 June 2006 Read More