The
Philippines are truly a place of beauty.
From the vast rain forest to the beaches and coral reefs; almost
everywhere in this country is a sight worth seeing. A recent environmental survey finds that much
of the beauty is only skin deep. The
university of the Philippines Marine Institute finds that only five percent of
the countries coral reefs remain intact.
More than a million dollars’ worth of dead coral and turtles has been found
to be sold in just the last month. An
estimate of 7,000 reefs had been damaged just to get these goods that were just
about to be smuggled out of the country.
The government has now cracked down and the senate is starting an intense
investigation. Conservation and
development programs have been started to protect the remaining reefs and
seeking improvement is now in plain view.
The country has limited resources for cracking down on poachers and
people who are hurting the reefs. Mining
has caused the ocean to be polluted and has damaged the reef in many ways. I think the US should lend the Philippines
money it can use to purchase more resources to stop the damaging of the
reefs. The Philippians’ needs to stop
people from polluting the water with the mining waste as well. Plans and
conservation methods should be set up in efficient ways. Laws and regulations need to be put in place immediately
so that the reefs can grow again without the worry of harm.
I agree. It's crazy to think that only five percent of the reefs are currently intact. It's sad to live in a world where people choose money over nature. Everything that these people are stealing from the reefs, even the coral itself, is alive. These poachers have no value for animal life. I think that these remaining reefs need to be protected, and that those found hunting the reefs, or smuggling/selling items obtained from the reefs should be severely punished.
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