Reef Protection
Coral reefs host some of the planet’s highest biodiversity. They provide shelter for small marine organisms such as sponges and crustaceans, which are vital to the ocean food chain, as well as a habitat for numerous small and large fish. Yet tropical reefs in particular, especially those close to the water’s surface, are highly endangered. The main reasons are global warming, pollution, damage caused by human activity, and extreme weather events.
Tropical reefs protect shorelines from ocean swell and erosion and store vast amounts of greenhouse gases. Their protection and conservation are therefore of great importance, and their vibrant colours and rich marine life are stunning, as you can see below.
For further reading we would like to suggest you the following selection of scientific institutions and articles dealing
with the research on tropical coral reefs:
Impacts of climate change: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/06/scientists-work-to-save-cFor
oral-reefs-climate-change-marine-parks/
Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel: https://www.geomar.de/
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research: https://www.leibniz-zmt.de/
