Treatments for cancer, AIDS, infection, arthritis, asthma, herpes, even broken bones are being discovered in coral reef ecosystems around the world. At the same time, experts estimate 10% of the world's coral reefs are dead and many more are in serious decline as a result of human impact.

Pharmaceutical companies and governments are finding useful new compounds in coral reefs. The National Cancer Institute spends one-third of its research budget to screen 1,000 species of marine invertebrates and plants each year. REEF RELIEF is currently studying the effects of the fungus aspergillosus on purple sea fan. This fungus is similar to what causes-spinal meningitis in humans.

Medicinal use demonstrates yet another reason to preserve and protect coral reefs. But, ironically, the research and collection of this information may prove to be yet another threat to the reef, if not done responsibly and sustainably. Large quantities of each material are often required in order to purify the compounds and this may lead to destructive over-collection, use of crowbars and hammers, or even mining explosives.

Pharmaceutical companies can help protect their investment while reducing the risk of long-term damage to the reef. Countries with coral reefs and related natural resources must be compensated for this research, and collection and a significant portion of these funds must be dedicated to conservation. A good example of such a program is underway in Costa Rica. The pharmaceutical company, Merck, is paying Costa Rica's National Institute of Biodiversity $1 million over two years for the opportunity to search for cures and treatments in the country's diverse tropical forests. Importantly, 10% of the up front money and 50% of any royalties go directly into the conservation of those forests.

For coral reefs to protect us, we must protect them.

Medical Treatments From Coral Reef Ecosystems:

Compounds derived from:	To treat:
Sea squirts	Tumors, viruses,suppression of immune system
Encrusting invertebrate	Ovarian cancer
Hard corals	Shattered bones
Pacific sponges	Pain, inflammation
Caribbean sponges	Cancer, herpes simplex
Indian Ocean sea slug	Tumors
Florida jellyfish	Cancer, inflammation
Bahama's sea floor mud	Skin and colon cancer