Healthy coastlines are essential for a healthy ocean

Healthy Coasts What’s a coastline worth? Nearly $11 trillion U.S. dollars annually, according to the National Ocean Economics Program’s 2006 estimate. Coastlines provide us with many services, both directly and indirectly. In addition to providing food and tourism dollars, different coastline ecosystems make our lives better in less obvious ways. Coral reefs protect us from the worst effects of storms, and prevent the coastline from eroding away. Mangroves act as nurseries for fish and other wildlife. Flood plains and wetlands recycle nutrients, filter out toxins and pollutants from water and replenish water supplies. As an estimated 40 percent of us live within 62 miles (100 km) of the coast, we had better keep our surroundings as healthy as possible. « Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next »   Sources: National Ocean Economics Program. (2008). Coastal Economy Search Results.National Ocean Economics Program. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://noep.mbari.org/Market/   Chong, J. (2005) Protective Values Of Mangrove And Coral Ecosystems: A Review Of Methods And Evidence. The World Conservation Unit. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://www.iucn.org/tsunami/docs/ pr-values-mangrove-coral-ecosystems-methods-evidence.pdf   Damassa, T. (2006). November 2006 Monthly Update: The Value of Coastal Ecosystems. World Resources Institute. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://earthtrends.wri.org/updates/node/118   Costanza, R. et al. (1997). The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature Online. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v387/n6630/pdf/387253a0.pdf