Our signature initiatives address local threats to reefs, including water … Thousands of colorful creatures click, dash and dart, as loud and as fast-paced as the citizens of any human city. Use only ecological or organic fertilizers in your gardens and on your lawns. Recycling and disposing trash properly can help … 2018 was declared the Third International Year of the Reef (IYOR) by the UN , thanks to this action thousands of millions people are increasing awareness and doing their bit to get a change. Yet, even our behaviour at home can help protect coral reefs from harm. Coral reefs are bustling underwater cities that lie beneath tropical, sunlit waves. If we all work together (which, let's face it, is a long shot) we may even be able to reverse the warming effects and allow coral reefs to … The federal Coral Reef Conservation Program offers these tips: How fish and clean water can protect coral reefs from warming oceans June 7, 2016 11.19am EDT Rebecca Vega Thurber , Oregon State University , Deron Burkepile , University of … How we test gear. Built up in tissue-thin layers over millennia, corals are the high-rise apartment buildings of this underwater Gotham. Coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse and beautiful ecosystems on the planet – but they are more than natural wonders. We can lessen the pollution we produce and we can monitor them. How We Restore Coral Reefs. Anyone who’s ever scuba dived at a coral reef and seen the perfect handprint of dead coral can appreciate how fragile and delicate this ecosystem is. It's really alarming after we discover that our coral reefs are disappearing slowly. Researchers behind the project, known as 50 Reefs, will identify the reefs most resilient to climate change and work with local officials to develop plans to protect them. It’s a time problem. 2. 50% of coral reefs have been lost in the past 20 years. It will take a collective effort to change the damage done. One-third of the global population relies on reefs as a source of protein-dense food. Start using less electricity and reduce those greenhouse gases. Conserve water – the less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans. Coral restoration can take on a number of forms. Coral reefs are in a perilous state. Once you've learned more sufficient information, start sharing your knowledge about coral reefs to help many other people to become more aware of the damage being done to reefs and what they can do to help stop this. To address this funding gap, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs — a new first-of-its-kind fund to protect coral reefs — was launched on 16th September, on the sidelines of … As I mentioned before, divers also cause damage to coral reefs and so we have responsibilities to take immediate action by doing the following steps: 1) Be a … Tips for How Divers Can Protect Coral. What Can We Do? Using less electricity and other fossil fuels can help slow down global warming effects. So we are accelerating individuals’ ability to meet and reproduce,” she says. Without coral, there would be no marine life," explains Roxane Boonstra, a recreational dive and volunteer coordinator from the Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo. 1. Just like plants and trees keep our planet land alive and clean, so do coral reefs keep our oceans alive as well. Ten Simple Things You Can Do To Protect Coral Reefs. The Best Way to Save Dying Coral Reefs: Bring Out the Loudspeakers. 10 things we can do protect Hawai’i’s coral reefs: Don’t pollute. But there are simple steps we can all take to help reduce threats and keep coral reefs healthy. The fossil fuel industry has lobbied for years to make sure we have limited alternatives to these choices that disturb our climate and threaten our oceans — to make sure we only have choices that protect its profits. About The Author Melissa is a freelance travel writer and Communications Manager at The Reef-World Foundation ; the charity which coordinates the Green Fins initiative in partnership with the UN Environment Programme . If we take climate leadership then our coral reefs, and the thousands of species that rely on them, can rebuild and thrive for generations to come. Coral reefs are damaged when the environment around them deteriorates. Sadly over the years, the lifestyle that we live has caused a great damage to the coral reefs in our oceans. Follow these tips to make sure you stay sun-safe and reef-safe: Stay undercover. Protect The Coral Reefs. “Coral reefs are changing more quickly than corals can find each other and adapt naturally. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. "Ideally, in a decade or so we'll have a satellite that can frequently and accurately observe all of the world's reefs, and we can push the science and most importantly our understanding even further," added Hochberg. I aim to inform, educate and implore you to be optimistic that it is not too late to take action. But while reefs protect waterfront developments, over time, excessive shoreline construction and dredging, along with sewage and polluted runoff from agriculture can leave them damaged. We’ve all seen the photos of supermarket shopping bags littering marine environments many miles away. By following basic sustainability practices can make a big impact. We humans have the resources, brains and technology to make a difference! Here are some specific actions you can take: The collapse of coral reefs has far-reaching implications for the entire ocean and for people, as reefs are considered sentinel ecosystems that protect coastal communities. Knowing is the key to caring, and with caring there is hope that people will be motivated to take positive actions. Luckily, we are still in time to re-act and protect coral reefs, taking part in the solution. In the Oregon State community, we have some fantastic resources that make OSU a leader in sustainability, including the Sustainability at OSU program and the Student Sustainability Initiative.. They might not care even if they know, but they can… Coral reefs are not just rock, like some people believe, but are an animal. We aren't aware of this problem because of the bigger problems that our country is facing. T he easiest way to protect yourself is to stick to the shade, especially during the hottest hours of the day.. Cover up. Since the 1970s, the 125-mile-long stretch of reefs that line the Florida Keys (the world's third-largest barrier reef) has seen a 97 percent loss of the once-dominant staghorn and elkhorn coral. EPA also supports efforts to monitor and assess the condition of U.S. coral reefs, and conducts research into the causes of coral reef deterioration. So we can all contribute and protect the reefs by simply leading a more responsible lifestyle. Despite how worrying this all sounds, it is possible to enjoy the sun while refraining from using harmful products. Coral reefs play a very important role in keeping our oceans clean. The Coral Reefs Can we save “Tropical Rain Forests of the Ocean”? The good news is that there are some things anyone can do to protect coral reefs … At CORAL, we’re developing and promoting solutions that help coral reefs adapt to the effects of climate change so that corals and the ecosystems they support can be celebrated 50 years from now. Keeping coral reefs safe is critical as the diverse ecosystems are home to a quarter of the planet’s marine fish species despite covering just up to 0.2% of the world’s oceans. It can range from simple growing, gardening, and outplanting to harvesting millions of naturally-produced eggs and sperm to create millions of new genetic individuals. Together, we can protect coral reefs and our ocean for years to come. When we burn oil, coal, and gas, it heats up the planet and the oceans, killing coral reefs. Coral around the world has been dying at unprecedented rates, largely the result of warming ocean waters due to climate change. However, the large-scale project will cover less than 4% of the world’s coral reefs. No matter where you call home, try these 10 simple ways to help Caribbean coral reefs today: Now, the International Coral Reef Society’s scientists have published what they call the “Pledge for Coral Reefs,” a list of 12 actions everyone can take to help protect coral and coral reefs. Reefs provide vital shoreline protection and secure coastal communities from storm damage; and they are a major source of revenue for millions of people. More than 90% are expected to die by 2050. But conservation innovation and technology can help. Turns out that this is true even if you, personally, don't believe in global warming. But, we can help in saving the coral reefs. The more you get to know about coral reefs, the more you will learn how absolutely vital they are to many ocean organisms. and around the world. Helping coral reefs doesn't have to be complicated. Some everyday efforts that can be made to tackle this crisis efficiently: 1. May 5, 2006 — -- Even if you don't live near a reef, you can help protect coral reefs in the United States. EPA protects coral reefs by implementing Clean Water Act programs that protect water quality in watersheds and coastal zones of coral reef areas. When coral dies, there is a domino effect that disrupts the marine life that lives on, in or around it. An estimated 4,000 fish species, and some 25 percent of marine life, depend on coral reefs at some point in their existence. It’s a stark reminder that, even if you live nowhere near a coral reef, your plastic waste could wash up on a remote shore and harm the marine life there. Individuals can also make a difference through their actions, such as making sustainable seafood choices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting efforts to protect coral reefs. "Everything starts with coral. As it stands, there is no dedicated global financial instrument for coral reef protection. Start at home and community. 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