Coral Reef Conservation Program: International Strategy 2010 - 2015

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems have great economic, social and cultural importance to communities, businesses and nations around the world. These ecosystems provide a wide range of valuable ecological services, constituting a major food source, economic base, and future hope for sustainable development in many countries, particularly small island nations. Given these important roles of coral reefs across the globe, U.S. efforts to promote healthy coral reefs internationally are critical to U.S. diplomatic and development strategies to promote economic and food security, social stability, democratic governance, improved human health, disaster and climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation in many countries.