THE GREAT BARRIER REEF | Australia's Natural wonder The great barrier reef | Page 6

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE:

The great barrier reef is also a very vital part of the environment and the world as a whole. More than 5 million people worldwide depend on reefs for food, jobs and coastal protection. The ridges in coral can reduce wave energy by up to 95 percent providing crucial protection from threats such as tsunamis. These aren’t the only things coral reefs do for the environment they:

•Assist in carbon nutrient recycling

•Provide habitats and shelter for marine organisms

•are the source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for marine food chains

•provide services we and other organisms depend upon, such as recycling and purification of water and air, the creation of soil, and the breakdown of pollutants