Functions and Benefits of Coral Reefs

Regions in Indonesia which has a fairly good coral reefs such as the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua. Based on an ecological study led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) with relevant expertise in the world's coral reefs and fish in 2002, found approximately 537 species of corals and 1074 species of fish in the Raja Ampat archipelago. This means that the Raja Ampat Islands is an archipelago with the highest number of species of coral reef in the world.

The number of coral species in Raja Ampat is 75% of all types of coral reefs of the world has ever been found. Although the Caribbean islands in Central America and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia is very well known, both regions have only about 400 species of coral.

Several other islands in Indonesia, which also has a relatively high coral species. Like Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan (444 species of corals), Banda Island (330 species). Also in Nusa Penida (Bali), Komodo (NTT), Bunaken (North Sulawesi), Wakatobi Islands (Southeast Sulawesi), and Paradise Bay (Papua).

Coral reefs themselves have functions and benefits as well as a very important meaning for human life both in economic terms as well as supporting tourism activities. Benefits include:

* The process of life that requires a very long time to grow and multiply to form as the current conditions.

* Housing, breeding and feeding thousands of species of fish, animals and plants that become our cornerstone.

* Marine resources that have a value of very high economic potential.

* As a natural laboratory for supporting education and research.

* Coral reef is a habitat for several endangered species such as giant clams and sea turtles.

* From the physical side of coral reefs act as protective shore from erosion and abrasion, the hard coral structures can withstand waves and currents thereby reducing coastal erosion and prevent damage to other coastal ecosystems like seagrass beds and magrove.

* Coral reefs are a source of high fish. Of the 132 fish species in the Indonesian economic value, 32 of them living in coral reefs, many types of fish, corals become an export commodity. Healthy coral reefs produce 30-10 tonnes of fish per square kilometer per year.

Beautiful coral reefs * remedy maritime tourism potential. Communities around the coral reefs can exploit this by constructing the diving centers, restaurants, lodging so that their income increases.

However unfortunate, it was only about 30% only coral reefs in Indonesia are still in good condition. According to a study conducted by COREMAP (2000), concluded that the condition of coral reefs of Indonesia are still "extremely good" only 6.1% and the status of "good" only 22.68%. The rest of Damaged condition (31.46%) and heavily damaged (39.76%).