Proceeds from our Ischia Towel go to support The Coral Restoration Foundation
RAINFORESTS OF THE SEA - Coral reefs are complex and ancient habitats. They have been a feature of life on Earth for around 500 million years. They are a critical component of life in the ocean. Often referred to as “rainforests of the sea,” coral reef ecosystems are one of the most biodiverse in the world.
Around 25% of all marine species rely on coral reefs, including sharks and sea turtles, crustaceans, and schooling fish. But we currently stand to lose all shallow-water coral reefs by the end of this century.
Losing all of our shallow water coral reefs would be like losing every rainforest on the planet. We don’t yet know how catastrophic and complex the impacts of this would be – humanity has never experienced the loss of an entire biome.
Around 70% of all atmospheric oxygen is produced by the ocean. Coral reefs are a critical part of the balance of life in the sea.
We do know that losing coral reefs causes: Damage to coasts, shorelines, homes, and businesses Economic fallout from the loss of fishing and tourism The collapse of the balance of life in the oceans.