Coral Reefs and Mangroves: Important to All

               Coral reefs and mangroves are very useful to human beings. It has many uses that help the economic of the community to increase. Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Corals are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Coral reefs are the most beautiful of all aquatic ecosystems. Often called “rainforests of the sea”, they form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They occupy less than one tenth of one percent of the world's ocean surface, and they provide a home for twenty-five percent of all marine species, including fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans,  echinoderms,  sponges,  tunicates and other cnidarians. There are three principal types of reefs: the fringing reef, which is directly attached to a shore; the barrier reef, it separated from a main land or island shore by a deep channel or lagoon; and the atoll reef, this is more or less circular or continuous barrier reef extends all the way around a lagoon without a central island. Then, mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropical and subtropical tidal areas. Areas where mangals occur include estuaries and marine shorelines. 

             






                   Coral reefs and mangroves have an ecological significance. Coral reefs are the most valuable marine habitats for over 100 countries around the world. They provide many free economic and environmental services, including fisheries, tourism, generation of sand for beaches, and protection of the shore from waves. They support a phenomenal diversity of species and provide irreplaceable sources of food and shelter. They form natural barriers that protect nearby shorelines from the eroding forces of the sea, thereby protecting coastal dwellings, agricultural land and beaches. They have been used in the treatment of cancer, HIV, cardiovascular diseases, ulcers, and other ailments. It is estimated that coral reefs provide $375 billion per year around the world in goods and services. Coral reefs also have an aesthetic value like tourist revenue, diving, snorkeling, swimming, fishing and boating.       Like in Australia, the Great Barrier Reef helps this country to earn about $50 million a year. Corals act as a provider for the construction industry materials. The coral aggregate is used to reinforce concrete and coral sand is used in cement manufacture. Corals act as a provider of novel pharmaceutical compounds for     medicines. It has a substances such as prostaglandin, that is an anti cancer drug and it has a S320 compounds for use as sunscreen agents. Coral reefs act as a sea defense. It dissipates wave energy, reduce island and beach erosion, and also protect the leeward habitats of economic importance example sea grass beds and mangrove swaps.

          

             On the other hand, mangrove forests are among the most productive terrestrial eco systems and are natural and are a renewable resource. They are not a marvel just for their adaptations but also for the significant role they play in our environment. Mangrove ecosystem act as Buffer Zone between the land and sea. They protect the coast against erosion due to wind, waves, water currents and protect coral reefs, sea-grass bed and shipping lanes against siltation. They are also known to absorb pollutants. They host a number of threatened or endangered species, different animal species- mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bird- offer nutrients to the marine food web and provide spawning grounds to a variety of fish and shellfish, including   several commercial species. In mangrove areas water level is shallow, warm water temperatures due to various decaying activities, water current is slow (nearly stagnant) hence ideal place for growing of sea algae and for spawning for fish and marine animals. They are breeding, feeding and nursery grounds for many estuarine and marine organisms. They purify the water by absorbing impurities and harmful heavy metals and help us to breathe a clean air by absorbingpollutants in theair. Mangrove forests are also important in terms of aesthetics and tourism. Many people visit these areas for sports fishing, boating, bird watching, snorkeling, and other recreational pursuit. They  are also a source of a vast range of wood and non-wood forest products including timber, fuel wood, charcoal, fodder, honey, pulp, tannin, medicine and thatch etc. Mangroves also provide opportunities for education, scientific research and eco tourism.

These two living things are very important to all not only for humans but also to the other living things. They protect the life of the human beings and all the animals living in them. Let’s not take it for granted that we had these things, we should not abuse them but we should protect them because they are life….