Reefs Acting As Flood Fortification

Reefs are known for supporting marine life, but many do not know the financial benefits coral reefs provide. Reefs help humans save billions of dollars for flood prevention.

Coral reefs provide a natural fortification structure against floods, saving billions in preventative structures that also benefits the environment. Most man-made flooding prevention structures are harmful to the environment.

The journal, Nature Communications, says the natural fortification for flood prevention through coral reefs saves $4 billion every year. The threat of flooding increases as the the environmental threat against coral reefs increase.

Projections show that if reefs were to recede three feet, resulting in off-shore flood and can cost up to $8 billion per year to fix. Coral reefs worldwide are under threat of global warming, ocean acidification, and de-oxygenation.

Reefs also protect the air supply quality through absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing clean oxygen back into the environment. The carbon dioxide absorption into the ocean water also negatively effects coral reefs by tainting the water for sea life.

People are also taking positive action to prevent any further damage of coral reefs, one solution including the banning of sunscreens with toxic chemicals that are harmful to reef health. Many of the large coral reefs across the world are experiencing intense rates of reef die-off.

Spreading awareness of elements that are causing decreased health for coral reefs can help the future health of reef life. For more about coral reef check out the video above.