Nearly 1/5th of Coral ... Just Gone

"The world has lost nearly one-fifth of its coral reefs, and much of the rest could be destroyed by increasingly acidic seas if climate change continues unchecked," according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). (National Geographic News)

In only 20 years 19 percent of coral reefs have been destroyed. And in only 20 to 40 years most of the rest of the world's species of coral could be destoryed. "Because such reefs are home to more than a quarter of all marine species, their loss could be devastating for biodiversity in the world's oceans, experts say." (NGN)

[photo courtesy me]