Corals and reefs

A coral reef: an ecosystem that corals build and maintain themselves.

Corals are animals. Most tropical corals live in colonies consisting of hundreds to thousands of interconnected tiny polyps. Together they build a skeleton of calcium carbonate - the framework of the reef. The corals thus form the basis for an entire ecosystem, they build the reef itself! 

The livelihood of millions of people is based on healthy coral reefs. Fishing and tourism are important sources of income for local communities. Numerous fish species have their nursery here, including many that are exploited commercially. Coral reefs can absorb over 90% of the wave energy that hits the coast and are therefore a natural, self-sustaining coastal protection.

In total, coral reefs cover only an area of almost 300,000 km², but “healthy and intact coral reefs provide critical ecosystem services that amount to an equivalent of nearly US$10 trillion per year” (Rebuilding Coral Reefs - A Decadal Challenge).

Reefs are at risk - corals are dying worldwide

“In my lifetime, I saw a magnificent ecosystem going down,” back in 2008, coral researcher Roberto Iglesias-Prieto shared his concerns about the state of the reefs in his keynote lecture at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Fort Lauderdale.

More than 80 percent of the corals in the Caribbean have disappeared, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half of its corals in the last 25 years. And many more could disappear by the end of this century. “For the first time, an entire globally dispersed ecosystem that supports millions of species and people may be lost at the hands of humans,”  this statement by the International Society for Coral Reefs gets to the heart of the matter. 

The coral crisis is our crises. In a world without coral reefs, the most incredible ecosystem in our oceans would have perished and its loss would be an economic disaster. Furthermore, if the reefs were to disappear,  the local populace will face increased vulnerability to the negative effects of climate change.  

How can we save our coral reefs?

Corals have existed for millions of years, but now their future is in jeopardy. Better protection alone is no longer enough to ensure their survival on a large scale. Combating climate change is a top priority and lies in our own interest as well. Local stress factors such as overfishing and pollution must be eliminated. At the same time, reefs must be actively supported by applying restoration.

Three areas of action that are interlinked must be tackled simultaneously:

1) Reducing global climate threats by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration.

2) Improving local conditions through increased protection and better management to enhance the resilience of coral reefs. 

3) Invest in a) research to develop innovative methods and technologies for reef restoration and b) active restoration of coral reefs to improve recovery and adaptation, as well as maintain or restore biodiversity.