Coral reefs are integral part of marine life and are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems in existence (Odum & Odum, 1955). Although coral reefs cover a small fraction of the earth, they are home to a fifth of the Earth’s biodiversity. They provide important ecological services, are relied upon by approximately half a billion people for sustenance and protection (Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, 2008), and provide cultural benefits for many coastal communities worldwide.

A recent global analysis of coral reefs shows that coral reefs are increasingly threatened despite years of effort to mitigate impacts to this important ecosystem (Burke et al., 2011). Threats such as pollution, sedimentation, overfishing, ocean acidification, and coral bleaching continue to threaten reefs.

In order to address these threats, global, regional, national, a local action must be undertaken in order to strike a balance between humans and nature.

Distribution of Major Reefs Systems (c) World Resources Institute

The four main types of coral reefs (platform, fringing, atolls, and barrier reefs) are located in four major tropical biogeographic regions; the Eastern Pacific, Indo-West Pacific, Western Atlantic, and the Eastern Atlantic (Moberg & Folke, 1999). Each reef type forms part of an interconnected seascape which includes sea grass bed and mangrove ecosystems (Ogden, 1988).