Investigation on the Status of Coral Reef Resources and Medicinal Research in China II. Resource Decline Status,Protection and Management

The degradation status of coral reef resources in China and the causes were investigated and evaluated by field survey and data analysis together with literature analysis.It indicated that the coral reef resources in the South China Sea degenerated rapidly in recent decades with a destruction rate of more than 90%.About 80%～95% coral reefs were destroyed in Hainan where the coral reefs accounted for 98% of Chinese total coral reef area.Besides the natural factors,the main causes for the degeneration were anthropogenic activities,such as exploiting coral reef resources inappropriately and excessively,and polluting the marine environment by social and economic development.The feasible strategies for protective exploitation of Chinese coral reef resources should be to establish an international cooperation system for the protection and management of the coral reef ecosystem around the South China Sea,to evaluate the ecological effects and values of coral reefs reasonably,to establish and improve the coral reef natural reserves system,and to establish a network for coral reef conservation.