Fear of peace

1995/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

The war removed the risk and now, once the armies were removed, the climate of peace that returns to the Red Sea will affect the environment more than expected. In order to address risk, researchers and biologists from Israel, Jordan and Egypt met in early February to prepare the protection mechanisms for the Red Sea and specifically for the Aqaba Gulf of its east.

This meeting is expected to involve Saudi Arabian biologists in the collaborative project. War and peace. After the war, the flooding of people attracted by tourism could endanger the ecological balance of the region by disproportionate growth and destructive and uncontrollable activities. They begin to wonder if what the war has not achieved will be brought for peace.

In the Gulf of Aqaba are the largest and most spectacular coral reefs of the Red Sea. Although in recent years it has suffered the consequences of the war, the fauna and flora have responded better than expected. Biologists fear the indifference of divers and pollution caused by tourism.

As for the first, last year, 200,000 divers acted in this area, of which 95% concentrated on protected coral reefs. An inexperienced diver can cause extraordinary disaster by moving between fragile corals. It is also known that as a reminder of the adventure chunks of coral are highly appreciated, a treasure that is easily sold throughout the market.

Tourist services established along the coast have endangered the original fauna and flora. The pollution that makes the algae disappear will lead to corals, which hinder the correct photosynthesis. Biologists claim that the Red Sea water will not be able to cope with its obligations and that it is doomed to the death of its inhabitants. The future of coral reefs is therefore at stake.