World Reef Day is celebrated on June 1, a date dedicated to raising awareness of the ecological, social and economic importance of these marine ecosystems, as well as the threats they face and the urgent need to protect them. This event aims to reinforce the collective commitment – institutions, communities, private sector and citizens – to reef conservation around the world.

Coral reefs are true “ocean oases”, as Charles Darwin described them. They are living biological structures made up of millions of organisms that secrete calcium carbonate to build the exoskeleton that supports them. Despite covering less than 0.1% of the ocean’s surface, they are home to 32% of known marine species, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that they could support up to 800,000 different species, many of which have yet to be discovered. In addition, about 37% of fish depend directly or indirectly on reefs.

These ecosystems are essential not only for marine biodiversity, but also for people. The United Nations estimates that 1,000 million people benefit directly or indirectly from the ecosystem services they provide. These include the protection of coastal systems, sustainable tourism, artisanal fisheries, food security , and the provision of bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical potential. They also estimate that up to 2.7 trillion dollars are generated annually in ecosystem services.

Despite their importance, reefs are severely threatened by the climate crisis, marine pollution, overfishing , and degradation. It is estimated that up to 90% of tropical reefs could disappear before 2050 even if the increase in the planet’s temperature remains below 1.5 ºC. In this context, their conservation and restoration are part of the major challenges of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO REEF CONSERVATION

In this context, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge develops multiple initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring these key ecosystems.

Within the framework of the LIFE INTEMARES project, coordinated by the Foundation, management plans are being drawn up in marine protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network with the presence of this habitat, which will incorporate measures aimed at their protection and recovery. Likewise, various actions are developed for the conservation of this habitat. Specifically, formations of vermetids of the species Dendropoma lebeche have been reintroduced in the Valencian Community to contribute to their dispersal and improve their conservation status. Educational material has also been produced, such as the exhibition ” Vermetid cornices. Reefs in the Mediterranean “, and a didactic unit associated with the exhibition. The experience “Volunteering for biodiversity in Andalusia” has also carried out the monitoring and census, among other species, of corals and gorgonians linked to this marine habitat.

On the other hand, the Biodiversity Foundation is a partner of the LIFE Ecorest project, which works on the active restoration of deep marine habitats, including the “Reefs” habitat, on 30,000 hectares of the coast of Girona and Barcelona, with the involvement of the fishing sector. These actions seek to recover benthic ecosystems essential for marine biodiversity.

(HIGH TIDE PARAGRAPH)

In addition, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, the EPROCAN project is being developed, a beneficiary of the 2021 call for grants to promote research on biodiversity. This initiative aims to expand existing knowledge about the deep marine ecosystems of the Cantabrian Sea, where cold coral reefs such as Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata have been identified, with the aim of contributing to their conservation and protection.

Thanks to these projects and the joint work with scientific organisations, administrations and the fishing sector, progress is being made in the knowledge, sustainable management and restoration of these fragile and valuable ecosystems. World Reef Day is an opportunity to make this work visible and reinforce the commitment to marine conservation.