rainforests of the oceans, because of the rich diversity of life they support. Scientists have not yet

finished counting the thousands of different species of plants and animals that use or live in the coral

reef. There are three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs

are located close to shore, separated from land by only shallow water. Barrier reefs lie farther

offshore, separated from land by lagoons more than ten meters deep. Atolls, on the other hand, are

formed far offshore and they make a ring-shaped reef that close a circular lagoon. Coral reefs are the

largest biological structures on the planet, with the largest being the Great Barrier Reef covering over

2000 kilometers along the east coast of Australia (Focus, 1995). The reef is said to be 500,000 to

2,500,000 years old and is said to be visible from the moon.(Scientif!

ic, 1987). There is only one problem with this beautiful structure and that is the carelessness of man.

Silt from deforested lands and pollution from crowded coastlines choke them, and overuse by coal miners,

fisheries, and even tourists deplete and destroy coral

There have been many studies on how long the coral reefs will last, and they all agree that

or around 4 to 8 billion tons annually (Futurists, 1993). Healthy reefs are thought to be among the most

Goreau, Thomas (August, 1987) “Coral and Coral Parks” Scientific American.

In the watershed of Bacuit Bay in the Philippines, deforestation inc!

turns effects the entire ecosystem of the ocean. Pollution by humans have directly or indirectly caused

reefs. There are many more factors which add to

Huntington’s chorea, a rare but fatal disease of the nervous system (Focus, 1995). Coral also produces a

their coral reefs. Everyone must work together to stop the pollution and the destruction of our coral

just started in the islands of Hawaii. The temperature of the water in Hawaii has said to have rose over

Some topics in this essay:
Australia Focus, Pacific Islanders, , Galapagos IslandsFuturists, Marine Scientists, Reef Star-Bulletin, Australia Caribbean, Marine Science, coral reefs, Bay Philippines, Barrier Reef, reef survive, global warming, star-bulletin 1995, destruction coral reefs, coral reef, fringing reefs, located close, barrier reefs, located close shore, close shore, destroy coral reefs, barrier reef, global warming ozone, warming ozone depletion,