®iral reefs are the most biologically
diverse marine habitats in the world, host to an
extraordinary variety of plants and animals. They are
also one of the world's most fragile and endangered
ecosystems. The growth of tourism, combined with
the boom in popularity of scuba diving, has brought
these spectacular ecosystems to public attention
around the planet.
Coral reefs provide essential fish habitat, support
endangered and threatened species, and harbor
protected marine mammals and turtles. They are a
significant source of food, provide income and employcountless other benefits to humans, including supplying compounds for pharmaceutical development.
Yet coral reefs around the world are rapidly being
degraded by human activities such as overfishing.
coastal development, and the introduction of sewage.
fertilizer, and sediment. And because corals are highly
sensitive to changes in water temperature, they are
particularly vulnerable to climate change.
The World Atlas of Coral Reefs provides the first
detailed and definitive account of the state of our
planet's coral reefs. With its wealth of authoritative and
up-to-date information, the finest maps available, and