The
vast marine area in Southeast Asia known as the Coral Triangle
stretches from the waters of Indonesia northward to the Philippines. It
is considered a hub of marine biodiversity and is home to over
three-quarters of all coral species. However, the US-based National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch is
reporting some of the worst bleaching ever seen in the region, following
seven months this year
of continuous record high temperatures on both land and sea.
The
bleaching process, which arises from global warming-related higher
temperatures as well as increased acidification due to the water’s
absorption of CO2, results in expanses of lifeless white coral
structures.
This not only endangers a wide range of fish and other
marine life who make their homes in the reefs, it ultimately affects the
health of the ocean.
Widespread bleaching has also been
reported in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, as well as
many parts of Indonesia, where damage off the coast of Aceh was
described by the US-based Wildlife Conservation Society as “one of the
most rapid and severe coral mortality events ever recorded.”
One
international team of scientists studying the process there found that
80% of some species had collapsed since an initial assessment conducted
just a few months ago in May.
Meanwhile, scientists fear that
another area soon to be affected is the Caribbean, where sea
temperatures have been above average since January.
National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other international
researchers, we appreciate your diligent observations of the
endangerment to the world’s vital coral reefs.
As we realize the
true perils of global warming from such evidence as this, may we
swiftly striveto protect the balance of life for the benefit of all
beings.
During a November 2008 interview on for Ireland’s East
Coast Radio FM, Supreme Master Ching Hai addressed this disturbing
trend, while highlighting the action needed to safeguard the coral reefs
and our oceans.
Supreme Master Ching Hai : So,
global warming is the greatest threat as it causes coral bleaching, or
when temperature gets too high, and the corals’ important symbiotic
algae is lost and exposes their white skeleton, and that's the sign of
death for the coral colony.
Some scientists predict that most of the coral reefs could disappear in the near future if global warming increases.
Coral
reefs are just like the forest on land. They are the protectors of
100-plus countries’ coastlines against storm surges and hurricanes. And
they are also the supporters of over 25% of all marine species. So you
see how important it is. And there are many more things that we have not
discovered about the benefits of coral reef and marine life.
Louise (f): So, we really do need to do what we can to protect them?
Supreme Master Ching Hai : Yes. We have to stop global warming, that's what. The solution is vegetarian diet.
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?uNewsID=194338http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67G1BX20100817http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=corals-face-catastrophic-bleaching-10-09-13http://english.aljazeera.net/video/asia-pacific/2010/09/20109116517326544.html
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