CORAL REEFS
WHAT ARE CORAL REEFS?
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and important ecosystems on Earth, built over time by tiny animals called coral polyps. These polyps create hard calcium carbonate skeletons that form the reef’s structure, growing into complex habitats that support thousands of other species. Although reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, they provide essential habitat for fish, crustaceans, mollusks, sea turtles, and countless other marine organisms. In many ways, coral reefs function like underwater cities; alive, growing, and constantly changing.
Why Coral Reefs Matter.
Beyond their beauty and biodiversity, coral reefs provide critical benefits to people. These ecosystems support fisheries that feed millions of people worldwide, protect coastlines by absorbing wave energy during storms, and contribute to tourism and local economies in coastal communities. One billion people around the world rely on the ecosystem services that coral reefs provide, which have been estimated to be worth over 11 trillion dollars annually. Healthy reefs also help maintain balance in the ocean by supporting food webs and nutrient cycling. When coral reefs thrive, entire marine ecosystems thrive alongside them.
Fisheries
Approximately 25% of all marine species spend at least one phase of their life cycle on coral reefs, making them vital for the fishing industry globally.
Coastal Protection
Coral reefs buffer shorelines against 97 percent of the energy from waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.
Tourism
Globally, coral reefs generate an estimated ~$36 billion USD per year in tourism value, supporting millions of jobs across hotels, restaurants, guides, and local businesses
Why Coral Reefs Need Our Help
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, and they are experiencing rapid and unprecedented global decline. Over the last several decades, many reefs have lost living coral cover and shifted toward less stable states dominated by algae and rubble. Mass coral bleaching events and other disturbances are becoming more frequent, leaving reefs less time to recover between stress events. As coral cover declines, the ecological functions reefs provide are increasingly at risk. Without meaningful intervention at both global and local scales, coral reefs are expected to continue declining throughout this century.
50%
decline in coral reef cover since 1950
67%
decline in reef associated biodiversity since 1950
99%
projected decline of coral reefs under 2°C warming
Threats to Coral Reef Ecosystems
Coral reef decline is driven by a combination of global climate stress and local human impacts that weaken coral health and recovery. Rising ocean temperatures cause mass bleaching by disrupting the relationship between corals and their symbiotic algae, and repeated heat events can lead to widespread mortality. Ocean acidification also reduces corals’ ability to build skeletons, slowing reef growth and compromising structural strength. At the same time, pollution, sedimentation, destructive coastal development, and overfishing reduce water quality and ecosystem balance, often fueling algal overgrowth and limiting reef recovery. Together, these stressors create conditions where corals struggle to persist after disturbance.
