Coral reefs are amongst the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, with up to 25 of all marine species depending on reefs at some point during their life cycle. This wonderful array of species and the framework of reefs themselves are not only valued for their intrinsic beauty, but provide myriad economic and ecological benefits across the globe's tropics. The total monetary value of coral reefs can be difficult to estimate, but the upper limit is assessed at around $11 trillion. Accounted for in this value are billions of dollars spent annually by tourists, jobs associated with reefs, commercial and sustenance fisheries, shoreline protection by way of reducing erosion and flooding during storms, current and potential drug compound discovery, and connection to and buffering of other important ecosystems such as seagrass beds and mangroves. Despite their clear importance for the over half-billion people who depend on these ecosystems daily, coral reefs face a number of threats across varied geographic scales. However, as we are discovering more about the complexity of coral-reef systems, we are learning innovative ways to protect and restore reefs using new scientific knowledge and techniques.
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