Coral reefs are a very interesting existence on Earth. While occupying only about 0.1% of the ocean, it is home to 25% of all marine species on Earth, making it the most diverse of all marine ecosystems. Coral reefs provide food and shelter, as well as an environment to rear the young for fishes and other organisms.

Nevertheless, the benefits of coral reefs extend greatly to humans too. In fact, hundreds of millions of people rely on coral reefs for nutrition, livelihood, protection, and economic opportunities. Even more astonishing is the fact that coral reefs are also a source for new medicines. However, this fantastic resource that nature has bestowed upon humans is facing destruction… … by humans. About half of the world’s shallow water coral reefs are already gone, and immediate action is needed if we do not want this trend to continue.

If coral reefs are of such prominent importance to human life, what makes us treat them so carelessly?

This blog aims to find answers to the above question. I hope this blog would help readers gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms for humans’ exploitation of coral reefs, as well as the reasons why humans continue to do so despite awareness of the possible negative consequences. We will take a closer look at this problem in Southeast Asia, in a region known as the Coral Triangle.