Coral Reefs -- Rain Forests of the Sea

"Pollution, overfishing, and overuse have put many of our unique reefs at risk.
Their disappearance would destroy the habitat of countless species.
It would unravel the web of marine life that holds the potential for new chemicals, new medicines, unlocking new mysteries.
It would have a devastating effect on the coastal communities from Cairns to Key West, Florida - communities whose livelihood depends upon the reefs."

Bill Clinton, President of the United States, August 1996 

1997 was designated the International Year of the Coral Reef (IYOR). United States government agencies and more than 50 other organizations from around the globe sanctioned the 1997 IYOR to raise awareness of the value of coral reefs and the challenges they face. The IYOR was an effort to promote and pursue the goals of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a partnership of nations and organizations to protect and sustainably use fragile coral reef resources world-wide.

Why should we care about coral reefs? Coral reefs are important to our future.

Reefs are:

• home and nursery for almost a million fish and other species, many that we rely on for food;
• some of the earth's most diverse living ecosystems;
• full of new and undiscovered biomedical resources that we've only just begun to explore;
• important protection for coastal communities from storms, wave damage and erosion.

Updated 12-4-98
Reporter Resources 
 
 General Information 

NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT CORAL BLEACHING

CORAL REEF TASK FORCE TO MEET OCTOBER 19 AND 20 IN FLORIDA

NOAA REPORTS RECORD-BREAKING CORAL BLEACHING OCCURRED IN TROPICS THIS YEAR

Weekly Story Ideas 

25 Things You Can Do To Save Coral Reefs 

Other NOAA Resources 

The Great American Fish Count 

Other Coral Reef Initiative Resources 

Participating Organizations

NOAA Coral Reef Initiative in PDF