Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

Reef Ball Foundation Hero Article: REEF BALL FOUNDATION by Claudia Herrera Hudson Coral Reefs In addition to being one of the earth's most beautiful, colorful, vibrant, and oldest ecosystems, coral reefs serve a variety of helpful functions. Found in the clear, warm, shallow waters of tropical oceans around the world, they are incredibly diverse and productive. Coral reefs aid in the protection of various forms of marine life, providing food and shelter to fish and invertebrates, and thus helping sustain biodiversity. They are home to 1 million species; clown fish, sea anemones, lobsters, sea turtles, seahorses, sponges, and thousands of other species call coral reef systems home. They also serve as natural buffers against storm surges, flooding, and waves and help stop shore erosion, thus protecting coastlines and the lives and property of their inhabitants. Thousands of communities around the world also depend on coral reefs for food, protection and economy. Reefs provide jobs both through fisheries and through tourism and recreation, such as diving tours and recreational fishing. Coral reef plants and animals are also important to modern medicine. New medicines and treatments stemming from coral reefs are being developed to treat cancer, arthritis, bacterial infections, heart disease, viruses, and more, in addition to pain killers, nutritional supplements, and even commercial products. Reefs in Danger Yet for an ecosystem resilient enough to have survived millions of years, it is also a sensitive one, and unfortunately, at great risk from a variety.......