The Forgotten Ecosystem

Oceans cover seventy-one percent of Earth's surface and contain ninety-seven percent of all water. They produce over half the oxygen we breathe, absorb roughly thirty percent of human-produced CO2, and regulate global temperatures. Yet they receive a fraction of the attention that terrestrial ecosystems get in conservation discussions.

Humans depend on oceans more directly than most realize. Over three billion people rely on marine biodiversity for their livelihoods. Coral reefs alone shelter coastlines from storms and erosion, protecting trillions of dollars in infrastructure and supporting fisheries that feed hundreds of millions.