Infographic Content
Poster 1: 10 Easy Steps to Help Save Coral Reefs
Adapted from The Nature Conservancy
- CONSERVE WATER
The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans. - REDUCE POLLUTION
Walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars lead to ocean warming which causes bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs. - USE ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
Although you may live thousands of miles from a coral reef ecosystem, these products flow into the water system, pollute the ocean, and can harm coral reefs and marine life. - DISPOSE OF YOUR TRASH PROPERLY
Don’t leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish. - SUPPORT REEF-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES
Ask the fishing, boating, hotel, aquarium, dive or snorkeling operators how they protect the reef. Are they part of a coral reef ecosystem management effort? - PLANT A TREE
Trees reduce runoff into the oceans. By planting a tree, you will contribute to reversing the warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans. - DIVE & SNORKEL RESPONSIBLY
Do not touch the reef when you are snorkeling or diving. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals and too much of this can even kill it. - VOLUNTEER FOR A CLEANUP
Don’t live near a coral reef? Then visit one on your vacation. Spend an afternoon enjoying the beauty of one of the most diverse ecosystems on the Earth. - CONTACT THE GOVERNMENT
Demand they take action to protect coral reefs, stop sewage pollution of our oceans, expand marine protected areas and take steps to reverse global warming. - SPREAD THE WORD
Share your excitement about learning how important coral reefs are to the intricate global ecosystem by encouraging others to get involved!
Poster 2: What You Need to Know About Coral Reefs
- Over 4,000 species of fish inhabit coral reefs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef - One third of all marine fish species live part of their lives on coral reefs.
http://www.defenders.org/coral-reef/basic-facts - Coral reefs are usually found in shallow areas at a depth of less than 150 ft.
http://www.defenders.org/coral-reef/basic-facts - Corals cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, but support 25% of marine life.
http://coral.unep.ch/atlaspr.htm - Coral reefs are facing a wide variety of threats every day, including storms, climate change, coral diseases, pollution, and unsustainable fishing.
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156613/ - 10% of all coral reefs are already degraded beyond repair
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156613/ - 30% are in critical condition and at risk of death within 10-20 years
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156613/ - 60% may be severely damaged by 2050
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156613/ - Economic value of coral reefs (graph)
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/