Hello, I'm Johora Singaporensis, a Singapore freshwater crab.
But you can call me Jo.
I'm so small, I doubt you've seen me
but I bet you've seen my Big Blue Buddy - the ocean.
In this video, I want to talk about the importance of Coral Reefs
and what happens when we lose them.
Coral Reefs are the heart and soul of Big Blue Buddy
and corals are found all over the ocean
from shallow waters
to deep seas.
Often called Rainforests of the Sea,
coral reefs are among the most diverse
and valuable ecosystems on the planet.
So are corals
plants
or animals?
Almost all corals are made up of individual animals called Polyps.
Coral reefs are formed from colonies of polyps,
and their structures are homes to algae
which provides them with food.
Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean,
1 in every 4 marine species
is dependent on them for food, shelter and survival.
Coral reefs are important nursery grounds that feed fish which
many people depend on for food and income.
They also keep coasts safe,
providing a barrier for storms
and soil erosion.
They're also called Medicine Chests of the Sea,
because they're a valuable source of new medicines
to treat diseases and other health problems.
Sadly, despite their enormous importance,
20% of the world's coral reefs have died.
Wiped out mainly by ocean acidification
and human activities like overfishing,
pollution, and mining.
The remaining reefs are under threat from global warming
which can cause what's known as,
Coral Bleaching.
Corals get their colours from algae living inside them.
When sea temperatures are abnormally high,
corals can become stressed,
causing the algae to leave.
The corals lose a key source of nutrients,
become weak and turn white,
and over a sustained period of time,
the corals usually die.
What's more,
restoring them isn't easy,
because coral reefs don't grow overnight or just anywhere.
Even though Buddy is really big,
only a limited area is suitable for corals to grow.
If we lose coral reefs,
then everyone loses.
Fish and other sea creatures will lose food and shelter.
Without fish,
many people will lose their main source of food and income.
Coastal areas will lose protection
against extreme weather and coastal erosion.
People will lose their homes and businesses
and be forced to relocate.
We'll lose a valuable source of potential medicines,
and the world will lose one of it's allies in the battle against climate change.
Here in Singapore,
an island home to more than 250 species of corals,
these corals face similar bleaching threats.
In a bid to protect them, the National Parks Board or NParks,
worked with community groups and began monitoring local coral reefs.
They started a Plant-A-Coral, Seed-A-Reef programme,
so organisations can help transplant
nursery-grown coral fragments in the sea.
Together with conservation groups,
NParks also installed artificial reefs,
like this one in Sisters' Islands Marine Park,
where corals can take root and grow,
and other marine life can flourish.
You can help too.
By telling everyone you know how magical corals are,
and how much our health depends on them.
By being careful when snorkelling or diving,
not to touch coral reefs no matter how pretty they are.
Saving Big Blue Buddy's coral reefs
will turn lose-lose, into win-win!