Boasting 25% of all marine species and rivaling the biodiversity of tropical rainforests, coral reefs are vitally important to human and planetary well being. They carry out a breeding floor for hundreds and hundreds of animals; current new medicines that deal with most cancers, HIV, viruses, and fully different well being factors; assist huge fisheries each shut to and offshore; and buffer coastlines from virtually one hundred% of wave vitality from storms. The appreciable biodiversity that reefs current additionally generates $36 billion yearly from tourism.
sadly, vacationers usually deliver destruction to coral reefs.
these days, seventy five% of worldwide coral reefs have “bleached,” a phenomenon of ocean warming and acidification that kills the residing corals and turns them white. satirically, this suggests vacationers have been flocking to smaller and smaller coral reef areas, resembling Guna Yala, bringing with them boats, flippers, garbage, and a restricted understanding of the fragility of these reefs.