Ensuring a Future for Coral Reefs

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A new future for Latin America's precious underwater resources is taking shape in Costa Rica.  AIDA and Conservation International will soon issue a joint report with a comprehensive plan to safeguard the country's coral reefs.  This effort could be a turning point for endangered coral through Latin America and the Caribbean.

Costa Rica has signed several international treaties that protect marine resources.  "However, these treaties are just not enough," says AIDA Legal Advisor Gladys Martinez.  In Costa Rica, human activities threaten 93 percent of of coral reefs.

No national law exists in Costa Rica specifically to shield coral.  The oversight likely stems from the fact that until recently, the public was largely unaware of the extent of coral reef damage. There is a less obvious reason too, Martinez says. "I think we take coral for granted."

Coral is a fairly common sight for those who, like Costa Ricans, live near tropical waters.  Worldwide, however, coral accounts for less than one tenth of one percent of the surface area occupied by oceans.

Despite its small size, coral plays an outsized role as habitat and food source for more than a quarter of all marine species. Reefs are nurseries, homes and meal spots for a blizzard of life. The food chain reaches humans too. Well-managed reefs yield 15 tons of seafood on average per square kilometer (six tenths of a mile), according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Yet you don't have to love seafood to love coral.  Reefs are tourist magnets and economic engines for local communities. They absorb wave energy, thereby preventing coastal erosion and storm damage. Recently, they have been recognized as potential sources of cancer-fighting medicine.

One hectare (about 2.5 acres) of coral is worth more than $1 million, according to estimates by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity project.  Worldwide, scientists estimate that the value of coral reefs totals $30 billion.

These living colonies - live polyps encased in calcium carbonate deposits - are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world.  They are also among the most delicate. Threats include: runoff from overdevelopment, sewage and intensive agriculture; unsustainable fishing practices such as net dragging and blast fishing; climate change-induced water acidification; irresponsible tourism and reckless boaters.

To prepare its report, AIDA analyzed international and comparative law and consulted extensively with national and international coral experts.  The report calls for an end to coral-damaging activities such as dredging, dumping, coral mining and construction on reefs.  It also pushes for more careful zoning in coastal areas near coral reefs, stricter regulation of destructive fishing practices, and closer coordination between the country's coast guard and environmental and fisheries authorities.

The administration of Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla has stated its commitment to conservation and environmental protection.  We hope the government honors this commitment when it comes to coral reefs and boldly advances to protect these valuable ecosystems.