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Officials met at the World Oceans Conference on May 15, 2009, to discuss the rapidly worsening problem of disappearing coral reefs. Like so many ecosystems affected by climate change, coral reefs are in serious danger. Mary M. Glackin, U.S. deputy undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere, explained that "changes we expected to see are actually happening faster than we thought."
Already, we have lost 27 percent of the world's reefs and, if current rates of degradation continue, another 60 percent will be lost in 30 years. Clearly this resource is in danger, but the stakes are higher than you may realize. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that coral reefs serve as the habitat for 25 percent of marine life. In addition, coastal reefs serve as an important barrier against rough seas and storms. When all of their advantages are considered, the loss of a single kilometer of coral reef can cost as much as $1.2 million in lost revenue and damages over a 25-year period.
For the countries that occupy the "Coral Triangle," an area in the Pacific containing the largest quantity of reefs in the world, the value is even greater. The Philippine's coral reefs have an estimated value of $1.1 billion, while Indonesia's are estimated at $1.6 billion. Of course, like the rainforests of Brazil, the value of the resources is ultimately immeasurable.
The loss of the coral triangle would, in fact, be a significant event the ramifications of which we may not be capable of predicting. Nancy Knowlton, an expert in marine life at the Smithsonian Institute, explained:
I'm not, personally, comfortable with the idea of destroying one quarter of the diversity in the planet. That qualifies as a mass extinction, and we've had only five mass extinctions in the planet in, you know, hundreds of millions of years. For humans to create a sixth mass extinction, that's a pretty serious responsibility for us to take on.
Six nations that control the waters of the coral triangle signed a pledge to reduce pollution and do what they can to protect the reefs. Still, the action was largely seen as a temporary measure intended to lay the groundwork for the U.N. climate change meeting to be held in Denmark in December. It looks like we will have to wait to see if coral reefs, like so many other threatened ecosystems, will get the help they need to survive.
Find out more about environmental politics and issues in Focus Earth: May 16, 2009: Coral Reefs in Trouble and Melting Tundra.
Read more about the oceans:
Take Action to Promote the Healthy Oceans Act
To Support the Oceans, Support Oceana
Focus on Focus Earth: Oceans in Peril
Focus on Focus Earth: Ocean Protection
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