Urbanization and Environment
by Urbanization comes a great price. A price which human might not be able to compensate for our own selfish intentions, if it’s not too late.
While land is at stake, the deep blue sea is not alone. Human activities both on land and the sea have resulted into coral facing extinction. Coral reefs are basically home to million of animals – at least 25 per cent of all the fish species. They have became known as the rainforests of the sea. However, worldwide, half of all reefs have vanished, and the most could be extinct by mid-century. In the US, half the coral is in fair to poor health.
If the undersea coral gardens disappear, we lose a source of extraordinary beauty and biodiversity. Not only that, the biggest challenges will be faced are lost of underwater buffer that holds back waves during hurricane; a nursery for fish that feed a billion people around the world and provide 200 million jobs in fishing industry; a house for plants and animals used to treat cancer, HIV and other diseases; and estimated $105 billion a year from tourist revenue in the Caribbean alone!
So what’s killing the coral? A no brainer question. The vast amounts of CO2 we humans have been emitting into the atmosphere have begun to turn the oceans more acidic, which in coming decades will make it harder for corals to form their limestone skeletons. For agricultural industry, when too many nutrients get into the water, from fertiliser or sewage, the seaweeds that abound in coral reefs grow too fast and the coral is smothered, unable to feed at night or draw sunlight during the day. Additionally, warmer oceans cause corals expel the colorful algae in their bodies, turn white and often die. And this takes at least a decade for bleached coral to grow back. Other causes also include oil-field and overfishing!
In short, there are also other cause-effects which I didn’t mentioned like the global warming, greenhouse effects or the melting glaciers. But before I delve into further, I think all these are enough to put us in thoughts and reevaluate our actions towards Mother Nature. There are some beliefs is signs of Armageddon or an apocalyptic warnings, because we have felt it, and we must act.
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