The World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information services on conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and helps others to develop information systems of their own. Coral Reef Mapping Coral reefs are among the most spectacular and diverse of all marine ecosystems. Frequently described as the rainforests of the sea, they are also of considerable social and economic value. Reefs are an important resource-base for a wide range of artisanal and commercial fisheries, supplying the major protein source for millions of people. The value of reefs for attracting coastal tourism is a relatively new development, but is growing at unprecedented rates, providing employment and crucial economic support in many developing countries.
Reefs also serve as important buffer against coastal erosion and damage from tropical storms.
Reefs are increasingly threatened by the activities of man. Overfishing and destructive fishing practices are threatening the functioning of reef ecosystems and even the fabric of the reefs themselves. Development has often led to land reclamation on reefs and damage to other areas by pollution and eutrophication. Deforestation and poor agricultural practices, often many miles from the coast are further responsible for heavy sedimentation which can smother and kill wide areas of reefs. Despite the importance of reefs, and the apparently widespread threats to their existence, there remain considerable gaps in our knowledge about reefs.