Ecotourism in Crimea aims to preserve the environment
Restoring coral reefs in Florida and Puerto Rico could save thousands of lives and prevent hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and economic turmoil every year. This is the conclusion of a new scientific study, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
"Reefs can absorb and weaken destructive waves. As a result, the waves crashing onto the shore are smaller, causing less flooding and erosion, which saves lives and money. Restoring degraded or destroyed coral reefs could protect nearly 3,000 people annually in Florida and Puerto Rico alone," the report states.
The reefs also have the potential to prevent material and economic damage worth more than $391 million every year.
Researchers developed a modeling system to quantify the value that restoring coral reefs could bring to coastal areas in Florida and Puerto Rico.
"Coral reefs are natural coastal barriers that can significantly reduce flooding and erosion in coastal areas," said Kurt Storlazzi, the lead author and researcher from the USGS.
He pointed out that many reefs have been lost in recent decades due to both global and local factors, and their restoration could provide the protection they once offered.
The study shows that vulnerable population groups could receive two to three times more protection from flooding compared to the general population.
"Our goal in this study was to provide reliable scientific information to determine who benefits from restoration and where these benefits are most felt. We want people to understand that restoring coral reefs is not just about protecting a beautiful and diverse habitat. It’s about protecting people, their cities, and the places they call home," Storlazzi added.
The study also lays the groundwork for calculating the cost-benefit ratio of restoring coral reefs to reduce the risk of hazardous events.
"Modeling the cost-benefit ratio for protecting and/or restoring can also be applied to other ecosystems, such as beaches, wetlands, oyster reefs, and mangrove forests," said Borja Reguero, a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who is quoted by the USGS.
As the agency noted, coral reef restoration may take longer than building artificial structures. However, if sea levels rise, dams or breakwaters will need to be raised. Coral reefs, being living organisms, can grow with rising sea levels.
The study on hybrid coral reef restoration, conducted by the USGS, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was published in the journal Science Advances.
Blogs
