May 28th, 2009 Coral Triangle in Danger due to Climate Change
Want your children and their children and so forth to be able to experience coral reefs?
Climate change is having an enormous effect on our planet. If no action is taken, coral reefs will disappear from the Coral Triangle by the end of the century. This will greatly influence the region’s ability to feed it’s people and the livelihoods of these people will be either lost or severely damaged.
The Coral Triangle accounts for just one per cent of the earth’s surface, yet includes 30 per cent of the world’s coral reefs, 76 per cent of its reef building coral species and more than 35 per cent of its coral reef fish species as well as spawning grounds for other economically important fish such as tuna, sustaining the lives of more than 100 million people.
However, there is still hope. Economic growth, food security and natural environments can be spared by significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
Coral reefs aren't just pretty decoration, without them millions of people will lose their livelihoods and food sources will shrink.
Yet, even with such reductions, communities will face loss of coral, sea level rises, increased storm activity, severe droughts and reduced food availability from coastal fisheries. However, these communities will remain reasonably intact. Ultimately, reducing greenhouse gas emissions will obviously be the best way to sustain both these environments and communities.
