Did you know that coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate ?
Coral reefs are the rainforests of the oceans, providing a home for a dazzling array of life. Reef-building corals are the trees that form the foundation of the ecosystem.
Coral reefs play a vital role in sustaining the health of our oceans and our economy.
Even if you live far from coral reefs, you can have an impact on reef health and conservation.
CORAL REEFS - THE TREASURES OF THE SEA
Here are a few benefits from having healthy coral reefs
Fighting climate change
Coastal protection
Valuable services
Supporting livelihoods
Corals for science
A rich ecosystem
Coral is a very complex animal. It is linked to the jellyfish family and sea anemone (cnidaria), it looks like a small anemone called polyp.
Barely seeable with your eyes, a polyp is building a calcareous skeleton and is living in colony. Every polyp has algea within themselves called zooxanthellea.
Both of these organisms live in symbiosis. This means that when the coral is giving a protection and nutrients to the algea, the algea is giving energy, food and oxygen in exchange.
All the corals together are creating the reef, a real city underwater which is a shelter for more than 30% of the marine life.
