what benefits do people get from the ecosystems?
Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on our planet. Not only are they valuable for the ecosystem services that they provide, they are also important economically. That’s why we need to protect the 9,000 year old Great Barrier Reef.
Coral reefs do not only provide food and shelter for animals. They provide for humans as well. All over the world, around 500 million people depend on coral reefs in some way. It could be for food, income through fishing, tourism, coastal protection, etc. Of these people, 30 million people are almost completely dependent on coral reefs. (1) Estimations indicate that the Great Barrier Reef Park contributes AU$6.9 billion every year to the Australian economy. (8)
Tourism:
According to the Australian government, over 2 million people visit the reef every year since it is on the World Heritage list. (2) Tourism alone generates about $5 billion every year. (3) Tourism in Queensland, the second-largest state in Australia, is a vital industry as it employs around 136,000 people, which is 5.9% of Queensland’s workforce. (4) Thus, the health of the Great Barrier Reef is highly important as it has a direct impact on Australia’s economy.
Protection:
Coral reef systems also protect shores from the powerful effects of waves, floods and storms. They buff shorelines to prevent erosion, property damage and death. In the Maldives where coral has been mined away, they do not have natural protection for disasters like tsunamis. It costs $10 million per kilometer to build a wall as coastline protection. (5)
Fishing:
Commercial and recreational fishing also generate revenue for the country. In Queensland, commercial fishing, by value, is the fifth largest primary industry. It rakes in $360 million per year. As for recreational fishing, 800,000 Queenslanders see themselves as recreational fishers and contribute $240 million each year to the state’s economy. (6)
Medicine:
Last but not least, coral reefs have the potential of saving lives. The creatures living in this ecosystem contain medicinal compounds that are just being found. These unique compounds have resulted in treatments to cancer, ulcers, cardiovascular diseases and others. For instance, Arden O’Connor beat leukemia with Ara-C, which is a chemotherapy drug derived from sea sponges from coral reefs. (7) In addition, corals’ structure has been used to develop advanced bone grafting material. The coral reefs possibly hold many more compounds waiting to be unlocked, which gives us further reason to protect them.
Sources:
(1) "Coral Facts." NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program: Archive. NOAA, 13 May 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/facts/welcome.html>.
(2) "Great Barrier Reef." Great Barrier Reef. Australian Government, 30 Dec. 2007. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/great-barrier-reef>.
(3) "Tourism at the Great Barrier Reef Is worth about $5 Billion Annually." ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 10 May 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-04-29/tourism-at-the-great-barrier-reef-is-worth-about-5/2494898>.
(4) "Queensland's Tourism Industry." Home. Queensland Government, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/tourism/tourism-in-queensland/queenslands-tourism-industry>.
(5) "Why Care about Coral Reefs?" Coral Reef Alliance: Working Together to Keep Coral Reefs Alive. Coral Reef Alliance, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.coral.org/resources/about_coral_reefs/why_care>.
(6) "REEF FACTS: People on the Reef." CRC Reef Research Centre. CRC Reef Research Centre, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/people/facts_people.htm>.
(7) Caron, Christina. "Doctors Develop Life-saving Drugs from Coral Reefs." The Daily Nightly on NBC News. NBC News, 20 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/04/20/11308813-doctors-develop-life-saving-drugs-from-coral-reefs>.
(8) Abitbol, Chantal. "Will the Great Barrier Reef Die by 2050?" CNN Travel. CNN, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://travel.cnn.com/sydney/visit/will-great-barrier-reef-die-2050-192647>.
(9) Header Image: http://wakpaper.com/id95663/coral-fish-1440x900-pixels-wallpapers-tagged-fish-1440x900-pixel.html
Coral reefs do not only provide food and shelter for animals. They provide for humans as well. All over the world, around 500 million people depend on coral reefs in some way. It could be for food, income through fishing, tourism, coastal protection, etc. Of these people, 30 million people are almost completely dependent on coral reefs. (1) Estimations indicate that the Great Barrier Reef Park contributes AU$6.9 billion every year to the Australian economy. (8)
Tourism:
According to the Australian government, over 2 million people visit the reef every year since it is on the World Heritage list. (2) Tourism alone generates about $5 billion every year. (3) Tourism in Queensland, the second-largest state in Australia, is a vital industry as it employs around 136,000 people, which is 5.9% of Queensland’s workforce. (4) Thus, the health of the Great Barrier Reef is highly important as it has a direct impact on Australia’s economy.
Protection:
Coral reef systems also protect shores from the powerful effects of waves, floods and storms. They buff shorelines to prevent erosion, property damage and death. In the Maldives where coral has been mined away, they do not have natural protection for disasters like tsunamis. It costs $10 million per kilometer to build a wall as coastline protection. (5)
Fishing:
Commercial and recreational fishing also generate revenue for the country. In Queensland, commercial fishing, by value, is the fifth largest primary industry. It rakes in $360 million per year. As for recreational fishing, 800,000 Queenslanders see themselves as recreational fishers and contribute $240 million each year to the state’s economy. (6)
Medicine:
Last but not least, coral reefs have the potential of saving lives. The creatures living in this ecosystem contain medicinal compounds that are just being found. These unique compounds have resulted in treatments to cancer, ulcers, cardiovascular diseases and others. For instance, Arden O’Connor beat leukemia with Ara-C, which is a chemotherapy drug derived from sea sponges from coral reefs. (7) In addition, corals’ structure has been used to develop advanced bone grafting material. The coral reefs possibly hold many more compounds waiting to be unlocked, which gives us further reason to protect them.
Sources:
(1) "Coral Facts." NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program: Archive. NOAA, 13 May 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/facts/welcome.html>.
(2) "Great Barrier Reef." Great Barrier Reef. Australian Government, 30 Dec. 2007. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/great-barrier-reef>.
(3) "Tourism at the Great Barrier Reef Is worth about $5 Billion Annually." ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 10 May 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-04-29/tourism-at-the-great-barrier-reef-is-worth-about-5/2494898>.
(4) "Queensland's Tourism Industry." Home. Queensland Government, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/tourism/tourism-in-queensland/queenslands-tourism-industry>.
(5) "Why Care about Coral Reefs?" Coral Reef Alliance: Working Together to Keep Coral Reefs Alive. Coral Reef Alliance, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.coral.org/resources/about_coral_reefs/why_care>.
(6) "REEF FACTS: People on the Reef." CRC Reef Research Centre. CRC Reef Research Centre, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/people/facts_people.htm>.
(7) Caron, Christina. "Doctors Develop Life-saving Drugs from Coral Reefs." The Daily Nightly on NBC News. NBC News, 20 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/04/20/11308813-doctors-develop-life-saving-drugs-from-coral-reefs>.
(8) Abitbol, Chantal. "Will the Great Barrier Reef Die by 2050?" CNN Travel. CNN, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://travel.cnn.com/sydney/visit/will-great-barrier-reef-die-2050-192647>.
(9) Header Image: http://wakpaper.com/id95663/coral-fish-1440x900-pixels-wallpapers-tagged-fish-1440x900-pixel.html
Written by Jessie Chen