Coral reefs
The variety of life supported by coral reefs rivals that of the tropical forests of the Amazon or New Guinea.

The total area of the world's coral reefs amounts to less than one quarter of one per cent of the entire marine environment. Yet some estimates put the total diversity of life found in, on and around all coral reefs at up to two million species. Reefs are home to 25 per cent of all marine life, and form the nurseries for about a quarter of the ocean's fish, including commercially important species that could end up on your plate any night of the week.

This biodiversity translates directly into food security, income and a multitude of other benefits to people. For example, although scientists have only just begun to understand how reefs can contribute to medicine, coral reef organisms are already being used in treatments for diseases like cancer and HIV.

For many coastal areas, coral reefs also provide an important barrier against the worst ravages of storms, hurricanes and typhoons by dissipating their energy.

As thousands of communities across the world will tell you, coral reefs are essential not only for the oceans, but also to human health and wellbeing.

Down the drain

• Counting only the economic value of fisheries, tourism and shoreline protection, the costs of destroying 1km of coral reef ranges between US$137,000-1,200,000 over a 25 year period
• Properly managed coral reefs can yield an average of 15 tonnes of fish and other seafood per square kilometre each year
• The economic value of shoreline protection from natural reefs in the Caribbean ranges between US$700mn to US$2.2bn per annum
• Southeast Asia's coral reef fisheries alone are estimated to yield US$2.4bn each year
• More than 450mn people live within 60km of coral reefs, with the majority directly or indirectly deriving food and income from them
• The total economic value of Indonesia's reefs is estimated at US$1.6bn annually
• The total economic value of Philippine reefs is estimated at US$1.1bn annually
• Based on data collected over the years, it is estimated that by the year 2015 degraded reefs in the Caribbean will lead to annual losses between US$200mn to US$600mn
• Hawaii’s coral wealth stands at US$10bn and generates US$360mn per annually for the state‘s economy