How to Save The Coral Reefs?
-
What You Can Do to Help Protect Coral Reefs at Home… Even Though You Live Far Away from Them
- Reduce, Break Up with Plastic
Coral reefs are under multiple threats and plastic debris is one of the most important ones. Simply their presence on coral reefs results in infections. Therefore, there is a simple way to save coral reefs by reducing our dependence on plastic. We can start with simple things such as avoiding excessive food packaging and saying no to disposable cutlery and straws.
- Reuse, Say Bye to Throwaway Culture to Help Coral Reefs
The use and throw-away culture is not a coral reef’s friend, quite the contrary. We can conserve coral reefs by opting for reusable alternatives. Carry your own shopping bag, use metal or glass bottles, change your lighters for matches or carry your own reusable coffee mug, you will be helping the coral reefs and the whole of nature with a little effort
- Saving Coral by Recycling
The third of the three R’s rule is recycling. After reducing and reusing, and only then, it is time to recycle. There are many reasons why recycling is such an important contributor to coral reef protection. Probably, the most obvious one is that when you recycle, the residues have a second life to help us, instead of polluting our rivers and seas.
- Save Water and Energy to Conserve Coral Reefs
Global warming is another great threat to coral reefs. The less energy we use, the less CO2 ends up in our atmosphere, in this way breaking the greenhouse effect consequences. On the other hand, by saving water we also save the energy we need for its extraction, transport, and treatment, avoiding new wastewater runoff into the ocean as well.
- For Coral Protection We Should Reduce Chemicals
The truth is that this is something that the authorities should do, but you can demand it. Nutrient runoff on land (sewage, fertilizers) increases the proportion of nitrogen. This is known to cause metabolic stress and also starvation in corals.
To save corals, we should improve wastewater treatment, reduce fertilizer inputs, and increase stormwater storage.
- Use environmentally-friendly modes of transportation.
Walking, biking, or using public transportation (such as buses and trains) for daily commutes is a great idea. Electric cars are becoming more efficient. The fewer emissions the less water warming and ocean acidification. That’s a very good way to protect coral reefs.