Shoreline construction disturbs sediments, which smother corals. Even tourism, where it is unregulated, can pose a threat. The prospect of widespread reef losses is particularly worrisome given the critical role they play in fostering the productivity of the tropical oceans. Coral reefs are often compared with tropical rainforests in terms of their importance as habitat and the biological diversity they harbor. Reefs are also an integral part of the livelihood and food supply of the human populations that live near them.
Reefs yield tourist dollars as well.
Reefs also provide essential services like coastal protection, buffering adjacent shorelines from erosive wave action and storm impacts. Because reefs provide so many benefits, degrading them is costly. The realization that reefs and their many benefits are increasingly in jeopardy has begun to prompt action at many levels. At the national and local levels, a number of governments and communities have taken steps to protect and restore coral reefs. In general, these examples of good stewardship involve a combination of planning, management, law enforcement, environmental education, and legal protection.