Figure 2. Global distribution of Coral Reefs

2.2. Importance of Coral Ecosystems

♤ 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. They are often referred to as the Rainforests of the Sea.

♤ Healthy coral reefs have rough surfaces and complex structures that dissipate much of the force of incoming waves. This buffers shorelines from currents, waves, and storms, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion. Reefs are also a source of sand in natural beach replenishment.

♤ Being storehouses of immense biological wealth, reefs also provide economic and environmental services to millions of people. Healthy reefs contribute to local economies through tourism. Diving tours, fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef systems provide millions of jobs and contribute billions of dollars all over the world. Coral reefs serve as habitat for many commercially important species targeted for fishing.

♤ Coral ecosystems have proven to be beneficial for humans through the identification of potentially beneficial chemical compounds and through the development of medicines, both derived from organisms found in coral ecosystems. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses, and other diseases.