Purpose

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Coral reefs provide a various number of ecosystem services to humans. They play a role in fisheries, they can help bring in tourists, and for some they play a cultural role (Bellwood 2004). Many different species use reefs as a food source, and as a home. Coral reefs are at a global decline, and management of reefs have been more than lacking. They are in danger from overexploitation, pollution, pathogens, and climate change (Bellwoord 2004).  There have been many man-made stresses to coral reefs and the populations are in major decline, and if something is not done they will face extinction, which will cause major economic losses. I want to focus on how the loss of Coral reefs will affect humans and the other species that use reefs as a home.

Goals

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We need to draw more attention to the negative effects of Coral Reef going extinct and how this will affect our world. We can use this information to try to stir up more funding and get more people backing this issue. More areas need to be under protection, and more regulation on run-offs and fishery techniques need to be implemented. The major loss of coral reef is almost entirely due to humans, so we have to be able to change our ways to try to save them, and thus save ourselves from a huge loss in biodiversity, and money. Markets that exploit reef resources must reformed with new rules and regulations, and possible incentives that prevent major human profit on reefs that are in danger to prevent overexploitation and extinction.