Coral Reef Destruction By: Mrs. Winiarski, Mrs. Wilda, Mrs. Rahman, Mr. Chokshi, Mr. Ziemer, and Mr. Hartman Thesis: Coral reef destruction has become.

Coral Reef Destruction

By: Mrs. Winiarski, Mrs. Wilda, Mrs. Rahman, Mr. Chokshi, Mr. Ziemer, and Mr. Hartman

Thesis: Coral reef destruction has become a serious geographic problem due to natural and manmade causes, but can be solved

by adapting to and mitigating these reasons.

Background

• Coral reefs are formed when the coral species grows and leaves behind its skeleton, which is made out of calcium carbonate (Impacts, 2013).

• They are known as the “rainforests of the sea” because they support so much diverse life (Impacts, 2013).

• If coral is sick or dead, it will become white and brittle (Saving, 2006).

Problem

• “Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has lost more than ½ of its coral since 1985” (Eilperin, 2012).

• “About 1/3 of coral species are facing extinction” (Impacts, 2013).

• This is a worldwide problem from the Caribbean to Indonesia and Australia.

Causes• 48%: Storm Damage; 42%: Starfish;

10% Coral Bleaching (Eilperin, 2012).

• Other issues include dumping sewage and industrial runoff into the ocean and divers, snorkelers, pachers, and fishing boats breaking off coral on purpose of by accident. (Impacts, 2013).

• Even though some issues are “natural” like storms and starfish, they are made worse by humans through global warming so it is definitely our fault this is happening.

Solutions• Adapt- meaning make

changes for the world we live in now… like reef restoration, reducing overfishing, and establishing marine protected areas (Impacts, 2013).

• Mitigate- meaning change our broader human footprint to stop global warming… like lowering carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency (Impacts, 2013).

• Deal with controllable issues first, like starfish, then go for longer-term problems.

Do Something Today

• The government should…– Establish more MPAs (Marine

Protected Areas)

– Fund research that looks into coral predators like the crown-of-thorn starfish

– Switch government buildings and vehicles to earth-friendly options like solar panel energy and electric cars

– Put more coral on endangered species lists

• You should…– Never pick at or break off a piece

of coral for a souvenir

– Be careful of where you get aquarium coral from- sometimes they are illegally farmed from protected areas

– Do what you can to lessen or offset your carbon footprint

– Be aware of coral loss- the biggest problem is that people don’t know about the problem

Conclusion

• Coral loss is a serious problem caused by natural and human processes, but can potentially be solved by adapting to and mitigating these causes.

• Coral reefs are a forgotten issue that must be addressed before ecosystems are destroyed.

These are real solutions for both the short and long term that truly can make a difference.

Works CitedEilperin, Juliet. "Dramatic Coral Loss on Great Barrier Reef." The

Washington Post. Oct. 2, 2012: A3. Proquest. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.

*Cited as (Eilperin, 2012) “Impacts of climate change on coral reefs and the marine environment.” UN Chronicle.

April, 2013: no page. Gale Student Resources in Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.

*Cited as (Impacts, 2013) "Saving coral reefs." International Herald Tribune. June 6, 2006: 6. Gale Global Issues

In Context. Gale. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.

*Cited as (Saving, 2006)