101 questions on corals: Towards awareness

Abstract

Coral reefs are among the Nature's marvellous gifts to mankind. Since time immemorial, they have fascinated and provided us with nourishment, protection and pleasure. Yet, for most of us, they are as mysterious as ever. We still need to understand fully what they can offer- useful drugs, for example- and how to help them in their survival in the face of our own activites increasingly impinging on them. This will be possible only if we can create an awareness, of their importance and vulnerability to nature and man-made changes, in every stakeholder, from local population through tourists to managers. This book serves such a purpose by answering most of the questions we ask everyday about corals and reefs.