This 2018, we are celebrating International Year of the Reef (IYOR). The celebration aims to increase awareness and understanding of coral reefs, and to further conserve and manage valuable coral reefs and associated ecosystems.
Isn't it crazy that between 1-9 million species live in coral reefs and by 2050, 90 percent of the coral reefs face extinction? Let's not take our coral reefs for granted!
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) declared the first International Year of The Reef (IYOR) in 1997 in response to the increasing threats on coral reefs and associated ecosystems. ICRI was founded in 1994 by 8 governments: Australia, France, Japan, Jamaica, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America and the Philippines.
The Great Barrier reef is the world's largest coral reef system. But it is suffering from the threats of climate change. With the rising ocean temperatures, the tiny organisms that give life and color to corals are slowly diminishing, leaving the corals white. But there is hope that we can make the Great Barrier Reef truly great again!
You can say that the coral reefs are super important to Filipinos! The Coral Triangle is recognized as the global center of marine biodiversity; it contains more varieties of corals, fishes, seagrasses and mangroves than anywhere else in the planet! :O More than half of the Philippines' provinces and cities are located in the coast, making Filipinos dependent on the reef for food and income.
Sea turtles are the ultimate sea navigators as they have been swimming in the ocean for over 100 million years! :O Do you wonder where they stop over for food? That’s right, in the coral reefs. Protecting our coral reefs means forever supply of sponges, sea grasses, shrimps, and jelly fish for these friendly sea creatures.
Corals are alive. They eat and breathe like humans too! But they are quickly dying. :(
There's not just one but THREE main types of coral reefs in the ocean: fringing, barrier and atoll. All the more reason to protect this marine habitat!
The Philippines is rich with natural resources and one of our country's grandest treasures is the Apo Reef, ranking second largest coral reef in the world. With that, we have a HUGE responsibility to protect the ocean and its species, to ensure that our future kids and grandchildren can enjoy the beauty and abundance as well.
