1,
Biodiversity Coral reefs are "essential spawning, nursery, breeding, and feeding grounds for numerous organisms. In terms of biodiversity, the variety of species living on a coral reef is greater than in any other shallow-water marine ecosystems and is one of the most diverse on the planet, yet coral reefs cover less than one tenth of one percent of the ocean floor (Biodiversity). 85 percent of the 1 billion people who rely on coral reefs as a food source eat fish as their main source of protein. For example, "in the Philippines, more than 1 million small-scale fishers depend directly on coral reefs for their livelihood" (Fis).
2.
Coastal Conservation. With the issue of sea levels rising, coastal conservation has been prevented in many areas of the world. Unfortunately, we're looking at another obstacle. Coral reefs have protected our coasts for thousands of years by absorbing more than 90% of the energy from wind generated waves. (Coastal Protection). Overall, this stabilizes the coasts, protecting many of them from currents, waves and storms, property damage, erosion, and preventing loss of life. According to the CRCP, the absence of coral reefs would cause parts of the coast (ex: Florida) to be completely submerged.
3.
Medicine Animals found in coral reeds are extremely important sources to modern medicines being developed to p'ossibly ease labor, cure cancer, arthritis, asthma, ulcers, bacterial infections, heart disease, viruses, and other diseases. They also provide ingredients for cosmetics, enzymes, and natural supplements.
4.
Tourism millions of scuba divers travel to coral reefs every year which results in local economies receiving billions of dollars from tourists on fishing trips, hotels, retaurants, diving tours and many other businesses.
TC