Vegetation disappears after on of these storms. Every single leaf disappears from every tree. It looks like a war waged by nature after a hurricane. The coral reefs feed the islands. The reefs are important to island economies for recreation, and food as well as being an important ecosystem that balances nature's movements.
Coral reefs are especially vulnerable to damage by global warming.
As ocean waters warm by just one degree, coral reefs die off an alarming rate. Jamaica has lost 94 percent of its living reef system. We like to think what is happening to our islands is somewhat like a canary in the coal mine. It is a small indicator of changes coming in the bigger system. I'd like to commend the media in this country, they do listen and give us an opportunity to tell our story.