Coral reefs have been called the “rainforests of the sea”. They are one of the most biologically complex and fragile of the Earth’s ecosystems, and they are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Coral reefs are found in 109 countries, but it is estimated that they have been damaged or destroyed by human activity in at least 93 countries. With each reef lost, countless forms of unique tropical marine life move closer to extinction and indigenous communities are forced to move from their ancestral lands.
Some of the threats to coral reefs include pollution from sewage, fertilizers and pesticides; oil spills; destructive fishing practices; mining; siltation resulting from logging, land use and development; and recreational overuse and abuse. These human-made threats cause irreparable damage when allowed to continue unchecked.
One of the ways that CORAL FOREST is addressing the problem is with the development and distribution of the Coral Forest Teacher’s Guide, an interdisciplinary curriculum for grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. The information available in this guide enables teachers and students to learn about the beauty and diversity of life on the coral reef, its incredible value to people and related ecosystems, the threats that it is facing, and the possible solutions to these threats. The Department of Environemnt was kindly allowed to ‘localise’ this Teachers Guide for the Cayman Islands and distribute a copy to schools through the country. We hope that with this knowledge you will find a deep respect, understanding, and appreciation for coral reefs and will work to protect their health and thus ourselves for we are dependent upon them for survival.
Click on the links below to download the files in PDF format:
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Table of Contents
