Page 24 - Coral Reefs

Black-Blotched Moray Eel
Gymnothorax moringa Coral Reefs Rainforests of the Oceans

Conserving Coral Reefs

International efforts

The impressive social,
economic, cultural and
medicinal values and

benefits of coral reefs
make for strong arguments

for conserving these
threatened ecosystems.

Some threats to coral reefs,
including sedimentation

and destructive fishing
practices, are localized
within particular nations.

Yet other coral reef
challenges such as

climate change, rise in sea
levels, ocean acidification,
and inter-national trade in

coral products are global
in nature.

At present 2.3 % (8.3 million km )
2
of global ocean area is classified
under Marine Protected Areas (MPA).
Countries have committed to protect
10% of the ocean by 2020.

Useful Weblinks
24 whc.unesco.org | cbd.int
cites.org | ramsar.org