“The reef is in danger and it’s up to us, the women of the world to protect it for future generations. Its story is the devastating story of climate change. Failure is not an option! Add your name to protect the reef at this link: http://reef.1millionwomen.com.au/
Mother Nature Network has reported that a new study shows how vital the worlds coral reefs are for helping us withstand the impacts of climate change, such as rising seas and stronger storm surges.
Coral reefs are the natural barriers that can soften the blow of incoming waves - the result of millions of years of evolutionary fine-tuning. Thanks to this study, which is the first global synthesis on coral reefs in relation to climate change, risk reduction and adaptation, there is a new appreciation for how important these ecosystems truly are.
Some facts from the article include:
- 1. Coral reefs reduce a wave's energy by up to 97 percent, the study shows.
- 2. The reef crest alone — the shallowest area where waves break first — dissipates most of the energy, absorbing about 86 percent of a wave's power before it reaches the reef flat or lagoon.
- 3. Without such a buffer, coastal residents must face the full brunt of rising seas and stronger storm surges driven by climate change.
Michael Beck, lead marine scientist for the Nature Conservancy and a co-author of the study, says "Coral reefs serve as an effective first line of defense to incoming waves, storms and rising seas."
Global warming is rapidly raising sea levels and encouraging more severe coastal flooding, and with around 44 percent of all humans living within 50km of an ocean coastline, coral reefs could present a natural solution to an enormous man-made problem. And, they can do it much cheaper than artificial breakwaters, with the study showing preserving coral reefs is 15 times cheaper than trying to clone them with concrete!
Yet right now, in our own backyard, protection of the Great Barrier Reef is at question with future coal developments set to have unimaginable impacts on the health of our reef.
Corals around the world are endangered by a variety of causes, including human activities, water pollution, invasive species and climate change, which projects like the coal developments on the Great Barrier Reef will only intensify.
The article states that "Conservation efforts often focus on remote coral reefs, but the study's authors suggest reefs near people should be at least as high a priority. Not only are those reefs often at greatest risk from pollution, development and overfishing, but they also have the most potential to directly protect civilisation."
This new study is just another confirmation of how integral it is to maintain healthy coral reefs, for the benefit of the environment, and also our own, as the conservation of coral reefs is an important solution to reduce risks from coastal hazards and climate change.
Join us in protecting the reef, add your name here: http://reef.1millionwomen.com.au/
