Coral Reef - Forest of the Sea

Coral Reef - Forest of the Sea   
Coral reefs are the forests of the sea, 
counterpart of our terrestrial forests. 

Dr Abe V Rotor 

 

Detail of wall mural, Caverns under the Sea, counterpart of mountain caves.

Author's residence, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur 

With the unabated destruction of our coral reef it is not common nowadays to see undisturbed coral colonies, the same way we seldom see virgin forest anymore.

Corals are animals in colonies belonging to Phylum Coelenterata, which is often associated with Cnidaria, of the Class Anthozoa. With the association of seaweeds, they constitute the abode of fishes and other marine life, without which our seas would not be as productive as they are today. 

However, the destruction of coral reefs through illegal fishing like “muro-ami” and dynamite fishing, as well as the conversion of shores into resorts and fishponds have greatly reduced fish catch and the diversity of marine species. 

Today our laws prohibit coral gathering, more so for export. Coral reefs conversion is a priority program of many countries. Without corals our island would fall back to the depth of the sea and our continents would be reduced through erosion. 

Thus, corals are nature’s architectural and engineering wonder for they serve as riprap and barrier against the restless sea, while making the world underwater a truly beautiful scape beyond compare.~

 

 Coral Reef - forest of the sea, richest in biodiversity compared 

to other marine ecosystems. (Acknowledgement: Internet photos)~