Fact SheetConvention
on Wetlands

Coral reefs:
Critical wetlands
in severe danger
Often called the “rainforests of the sea,” coral reefs
fascinate us with their colourful explosion of life. Hometo a quarter of all marine species, this special type of
wetland directly benefits nearly 500 million people wholive near tropical shorelines by providing food security,
coastal protection and income from tourism.
Coral reefs are suffering dramatically from human-induced and naturalpressures. 75% of the world’s coral reefs are at risk, and 10% are already damaged
beyond repair. Yet there are some encouraging success stories on how to slow,
stop and reverse their decline and degradation.

What is a coral reef ?
Solid and wave-resistant, coral reefs
are partly created by living colonies
of coral polyps, tiny spinelessorganisms related to sea anemones.
They synthesize and excrete calcium
carbonate, creating a hard exoskeleton
structure, which over generations
Index of change in abundance of populations in Ramsar Sites
contributes to reef formation. Livebetween 1970 and 2011coral communities live as a thin
The total number of published value estimates per biome is indicated in brackets;veneer on the very reefs they create
the average value of the value range is indicated with arrow marker. From R. de Groot et al. (2012).
on the dead coralline bodies of
their predecessors.
Range and average of total monetary value of the bundle of ecosystemservices per biome (in Int.$/ha/yr 2007/PPP-corrected).
Open oceans (14)Woodlands (21)Grasslands (32)Temperate Forest (58)Rivers and Lakes (15)Tropical Forest (96)Inland wetlands (168)Coastal systems (28)Coastal wetlands (139)
Coral reefs (94)1101001000

10.000100.000

1 million

10 million

The total number of published value estimates
per biome is indicated in brackets; the average value of the value
range is indicated as a triangle.
From R. de Groot et al. (2012)

The total number of
www.ramsar.org
Fact Sheet 5.1

published value estimates
per biome is indicatedin brackets; the averagevalue of the value range

Adapted from R. de Groot et al. (2012).

Each polyp hosts a populationof microalgae (commonly calledzooxanthellae) in its tissue. In aremarkable symbiotic interaction,
the algae digest the polyp’s waste andcarbon dioxide for their own photosynthesis, and in return, provide
oxygen and organic outputs, which
the polyp then turns into calcium
carbonate.

–––

Coral reefs generally form in tropicaland sub-tropical locations where
suitable conditions are found for coral
polyps and associated reef organisms:
Clear and shallow water thatallows the light to reach the algae
for photosynthesis
Warm water temperatures
Specific ranges of water salinity
and acidity
Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Ocean hold 70 % of the reefs worldwide. Currently there are about 277
Wetlands of International Importance(Ramsar Sites) that host coral
formations.

5–Benefits to humanity thatare worth a fortune
When a 2012 global comparison
measured the monetary valueof services provided by ten different
major biomes, coral reefs took thetop place, with an estimated valueof US$ 500,000 per hectare per year.
In the country of Belize alone, it isestimated that coral reef tourism
accounted for US$ 150-196 million
in the year 2007. A well-managed reefin the Indian and Pacific Oceans
can provide between 3-5 tons of seafood
per km2 per year.

–––––

Serious pressure––

Effective
responses

Kenya
Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary■■In 2003, the fishermen of Kuruwitu, Vipingo,
realized that the declining number and size offish was making their way of life impossible.
Together with local property owners, they
started the Kuruwitu Conservation andWelfare Association (KCWA), which closed off
a 30-hectare reserve to fishing. Since then,the area has seen a recovery in coral and fishspecies, better catches outside the reserve
and an increased number of visitors eager to
see a regenerating reef ecosystem.

Live hard coral cover declined
by an estimated 38 % between 1980
and 2004. Direct threats from humanactivities include:
Physical damage such as dredging
and reclamation
Overfishing and destructive fishingpractices

Cuba
Jardines de la Reina National Park■■

This archipelago stretches for 120 km off thesouth central coast of Cuba and comprises
661 keys. In 1996, some 970 km2 of the area
were set aside as a marine reserve, oneof the largest in the Caribbean. Commercial
fishing is heavily restricted, and the site ismarketed as an exclusive tourist destination
for diving and sport fishing. Since being
declared a National Park, ten key species oflarge fish are present in greater abundance.

Coastal pollution, nutrient run-off
and eutrophication
Sedimentation due to changes
in land use and erosion
Spread of invasive species
In parallel, the human-induced risein greenhouse gases and climate change
is leading to:
Coral bleaching, due to loss ofzooxanthellae, primarily from thermal
stressIncreased calcium carbonate
dissolution, due to acidificationof the oceans from higher carbon
dioxide levels

Encouraging resilience–––––––A holistic approach to promoting
a healthy, resilient coral reef might
encompass:
Defining “no-take” areas designed tomaximise key species replenishment
Zoning human activities arounda coral reef, including managementof activities on land and preservationof key habitat corridors
Applying bans on fishing and collection
during spawning season or in specificspawning areas
Integrating local coral reef users
and stakeholders into management
actions
Other actions that can workat a much wider scale:Land activities management to limit
run-offs, pollution and CO2 emissions
Information systems and integrated
monitoring programmes
Establishment of large marine
protected areas

Photo credits

Page 1: Izoneguy, Dreamstime; page 2: Serge Andrefouet/Institut
de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD);
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Fact Sheet 5.2

The Ramsar Convention
The Convention on Wetlands ofInternational Importance,
commonly known as the Ramsar
Convention, is a global intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international
cooperation for the conservation and wise useof wetlands and their resources. It is the only
global treaty to focus on one single ecosystem.