A study published by Science Express identifies more than one third of the world’s reef-building coral species as endangered.

The news released by Conservation International is disconcerting not only for the environmentalists and scientists involved in the study, but also for tourists, marine enthusiasts and local populations.

Corals are used in different industries, including pharmaceutic (to extract typical antibiotics), jewelry, carvings and tourist souvenirs. But when corals face extinction, the industry is the last concern, although the loss of the corals will negatively impact “millions of people who depend on coral reefs for their livelihoods” (Roger McManus, CI’s vice president for marine programs). Also, the corals protect coastal towns from erosion and flooding caused by tropical storms.

“When corals die off, so do the other plants and animals that depend on coral reefs for food and shelter, and this can lead to the collapse of entire ecosystems.” - stated Kent Carpenter, lead author of the Science Express study, GMSA Director, IUCN Species Programme.

Corals are home to more than 25 percents of marine species. Climate change, water pollution, overfishing and other external factors lead to the degradation of the reefs and often to mass coral mortality.

Staghorn corals face the highest risk of extinction, having over 50 percents of species listed as threatened. They are followed by the Iconic elkhorn coral (critically endangered) and others. A full list of endangered spiecies at http://www.sci.odu.edu/gmsa/about/corals.shtml

Of course, as with many other environment catastrophes, the presence of the humans around the coral reefs plays an important role in their destruction.

“We either reduce our CO2 emission now or many corals will be lost forever,” says Julia Marton-Lefèvre, IUCN Director General. “Improving water quality, global education and the adequate funding of local conservation practices also are essential to protect the foundation of beautiful and valuable coral reef ecosystems.”

Photo credits Conservation International: view a gallery of coral reefs and their threats.