Importance of Coral Reefs and Mangroves

1st lets talk about coral reefs, when we say coral reefs what comes into our mind? mostly of us think of it as a rock in the sea in the sea but the fact is coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps are like tiny sea anemones, to which they are closely related. But unlike sea anemones, coral polyps secrete hard carbonate exoskeleton which support and protect their bodies. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters. coral reefs are important not only biologically rich and a source of beauty but they also provide many services. When coral reefs are degraded, destroyed or bleached, those services will be impacted. Some of the services that coral reefs provide are preventing big waves to hit the seashores, tourist attraction, home for small fishes and many more.. We should help our society protects our coral reefs because Coral reefs have been used in the treatment of cancer, HIV, cardiovascular diseases, ulcers, and other ailments. At least 500 million people rely on coral reefs for food, coastal protection, and livelihoods. Coral reefs are among the oldest ecosystems on Earth.But as far as we know Estimates are that 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been effectively destroyed in the last few decades and an additional 20% or more are severely degraded, particularly in the Caribbean Sea and Southeast Asia.

Now lets talk about Mangroves. Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics.Mangroves is just like coral reefs when we talk about there services that they have made in the society. But the only difference is that corals are tiny living animals while mangroves are various kinds of trees. Mangroves protect shorelines from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves, and floods. Mangroves also help prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled root systems. They maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land. Mangroves also serve as nursery areas for animals like shrimp, crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes. Mangroves also provide support for threatened and endangered species. the threatened species includes American alligator, green sea turtle and loggerhead sea turtle while the endangered species includes American crocodile, hawks bill sea turtle, eastern indigo snake, southern bald eagle, peregrine falcon, brown pelican and many more.. In other parts of the world, people have utilized mangrove trees as a renewable resource. Harvested for durable, water-resistant wood, mangroves have been used in building houses, boats, pilings, and furniture. The wood of the black mangrove and buttonwood trees has also been utilized in the production of charcoal. Tannins and other dyes are extracted from mangrove bark. Leaves have been used in tea, medicine, livestock feed, and as a substitute for tobacco for smoking. In Florida, beekeepers have set up their hives close to mangroves in order to use the nectar in honey production.

In Generallization:
     We Should Help Our Environment In Our Own Little Way So That We Can Help Our Mother Earth Restore Its Beauty and To Preserve Everything That We Still Have Now Before Its To Late!