Tourism Impact on Coral Reefs

By Abraham Abellana

CommitteeThomas Nowacki Chair of Biomedical Art

Beth Halasz Assistant Professor of the Biomedical Art department

Deborah Harris Full time lecturer at Case Western Reserve University.

Mary Assad PH.D. Full time lecturer at Case Western Reserve University.

Andrea Grottoli PH.D. Professor in the School of Earth Sciences at Ohio StateUniversity and President of International Coral Reef Society.

Problem Statement

On the Philippine islands, many coral reefs have poor health due to global stressors and local stressors. While the global stressors have the greatest impact on reef health, local stressors such as tourism greatly affect reefs by damaging them, in turn making them susceptible to diseases and coral bleaching. Many tourist establishments in the Philippines do not emphasize how people’s behavior around coral reefs can greatly affect reef health.Tourism has the potential to promote reef conservation but instead, in these current circumstances, it is contributing to the overall decline of coral reef health.

Solution

Currently, there are not many illustrations showcasing the impact of tourism on coral reefs. Many tourists lack knowledge of how easily corals can be damaged and may not know the many dangers that coral reefs are facing.

My project aims to educate tourists, tourists establishments, and individuals who are interested in coral reef health about the negative effects of tourist activities and local development on coral reefs.

Exhibit Space

Thank You!