The overexploitation of natural resources has been a common human tendency over the years. One may argue that over exploitation is a natural trend that can be explained by Hardin's famous concept referred to as the "tragedy of the commons". According to Hardin any property that is public will inevitably be overexploited and eventually destroyed. He uses the analogy of a pasture which is "open to all" and argues that every herdsman will seek to maximize his gain. According to the herdsman, the positive consequences of adding one more animal to the pasture outweigh the negative. Whereas grazing one more animal on the pasture would solely benefit the herdsman, he would only have to bear a portion of the negative repercussions, as the effects of overgrazing would have to be shared by all. Hardin argues that this rationale would govern the behaviour of all the herdsmen, hence resulting in the ultimate destruction of the pasture (Hardin, 1968). Hardin's concept also traces back to Aristotle, who once stated that "what is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it" (Ostrom, 1990). One can argue that a similar rationale is governing our actions towards coral reefs today. Coral reefs are currently the subject of severe overexploitation, a trend that can be attributed to individual rational behaviour — that is focused on short-term economic gain — which will inevitably result in long term harm to the environment, the public and ultimately the individual himself (De Young, 1999).

The Red Sea provides a favorable environment for the growth of coral reef communities. The Red Sea is marginal to the main area of the Indo-Pacific and it extends to 30 degrees north. Sea water reaches a minimum temperature of 24.5°C in the central Red Sea in February and a minimum of 21.2°C in the Gulf of Aqaba. These warm water conditions allow for the growth of extensive coral reef communities in the region. Coral reefs seem to develop best in the central and northern Red Sea, on the coasts of Egypt, Sudan and Saudi Arabia (Edwards et al, 1987).

Coral reef conservation has been a subject of excessive debate and discussion in the environmental, social, and economic realms over the past few years. Whereas one may understand how coral reef protection is an environmental concern, many may wonder how such an issue is of social or economic importance. It is critical that one is aware of the way in which all these aspects inter-relate. Coral reefs play an important role in maintaining biodiversity. The reef is a complex marine benthic ecosystem which supports a large range of fauna. Surface irregularities of the reef create various crevices and tunnels that provide shelter for many plants, fish and invertebrates. Moreover, the reef offers a site of attachment for sessile organisms and areas of sand and rubble that deposit between coral heads allow for the development of different communities associated with the hard-substrate reef (Paulay, 1997). Consequently, any harm that occurs to the reef in turn affects all organisms that depend on it for their survival, and such destruction may lead to the loss of a diverse range of natural resources which is of significant potential value. In other words damaging a certain area of a reef would not only lead to the loss of the living coral, but also the fish and invertebrates that relied on the reef for food and shelter. This is a critical concern to environmentalists who strongly believe in the innate value of all living species and constantly advocate that "all living species have a right to live." Nevertheless, the aftermath of reef destruction is one that we all have to bear regardless of the ideals we hold. Local communities which depend on the reef for fishing are the ones who suffer the immediate repercussions of such a loss. However, reef destruction also has negative consequences that affect the society as a whole. The aesthetic value of coral reefs has allowed them to acquire an immense economic value. The Egyptian Red Sea coastline has witnessed tremendous developments over the past few decades allowing coral reefs to become one of the major assets on which the tourism industry relies. In 1989, the ministry of tourism initiated an intense campaign to market the Red Sea coast to domestic and international investors in anticipation of large economic rewards. Thus, government efforts were directed towards developing the infrastructure of the region in order to make the area more accessible to both Egyptians and international visitors, such developments include building the Hurghada airport. According to the Baseline Report provided by the Egyptian Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resource Management project in 1996, tourism accounted for roughly 90% of Hurghada's local economy (GEF/World Bank, 1996). Thus one can safely argue that destroying coral reefs would have drastic consequences on the Egyptian economy, and as a result the intrinsic value of coral reefs to a society becomes evident.

According to the World Conservation Union and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), reefs in 93 out of 109 countries have been significantly damaged or destroyed largely due to human impact (Lalli and Parsons, 2002). One of the major factors contributing to the destruction of coral reefs is construction building. The construction of resorts along the Red Sea coastline has had serious effects on the health of the coral reefs. Erosion and sedimentation resulting from construction lead to increased levels of turbidity in coastal waters hence making them less favorable for coral growth (EEAA, 1996). Another example of human impact is the direct effects of recreational activities such as diving and snorkeling on the reef. Individuals involved in such activities may cause coral damage by stepping on the reef flat and coral breakage due to hand and fin contact. Studies have shown that various reefs in the Red Sea are currently displaying signs of degradation. For instance, according to the aforementioned 1996 baseline report, the results of surveys conducted within the Hurghada island group indicated that many of the reefs in the region are under serious threat due to recreational diving and sedimentation due to land filling activities (GEF/World Bank, 1996). These detrimental human activities will have long term consequences since corals have an extremely slow growth rate which was estimated in a study to be approximately 0.8 to 26 mm/year (Roth, 1979).

In an effort to conserve marine and terrestrial resources, the Egyptian government has declared various regions as protected areas in 1983. These areas include Nabq, Abu Galum and Taba. The establishment of the aforementioned marine reserves has allowed the government to successfully limit reef destruction by enforcing strict regulations banning various human activities — such as fishing or snorkeling — in the region (Tilot, 2002). Whereas establishing marine reserves and protected areas may seem like the ideal solution in the eyes of many, this is unreasonable and a highly unlikely option as it would result in substantial economic costs. A more practical approach would be to adopt measures to ensure that the reef is not being exploited beyond its carrying capacity.

It would be unjust to claim that there have not been any efforts addressing the issue of reef overexploitation in Egypt. In fact there are various non-governmental organizations that have been established in the Red Sea whose tremendous efforts should not go unwarranted. Examples of such organizations include Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) and Man And The Environment (MATE) in Dahab. These associations have successfully organized various events including clean ups and awareness campaigns aimed at educating the Egyptian youth and local communities of the Red Sea coastline. Hence, immense efforts are directed towards enhancing public awareness and utilizing scientific expertise in organizing training programs that may help individuals develop a sense of responsibility towards the environment and adopt eco-friendly mannerisms. Another positive trend that is currently developing in Egypt is the establishment of eco-lodges such as "Basata". Basata camp is the first eco-friendly facility established in Egypt and it has proved to be efficient from various perspectives. The camp is built entirely from natural materials such as bamboo, reed and wood such that it is not intrusive to the natural environment in the region and simultaneously supports the local economy. The camp employs a water resource management program where the high salinity waste water produced from a desalination plant is used for toilet flushing. A recycling system is also employed where garbage is separated into organic and inorganic waste, while the former is used in the animal farm the latter is sent to the city for recycling. Moreover, stringent regulations are set to ensure that natural resources such as the coral reefs are protected and preserved (Salama, 1998).

Even though there are a number of positive conservation attempts currently in progress, these movements are all small scale and are not sufficient to restore or retard the ongoing destruction that the reef is subjected to. In my opinion the solution to this impending predicament is manifold. The aforementioned trend of establishing eco-lodges is one that holds immense promise if it were adopted at a wider scale. Establishing eco-lodges is a positive step towards attaining sustainability. The aim of sustainability is to integrate environmental concerns in the building process. In other words, sustainable development aspires to design and manage ecosystems which integrate both urban and natural processes in a mutually beneficial relationship (Salama, 1998). Sustainable development is defined "as the development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (ECE, 1996). Hence, a sustainable society is one that excels at wisely allocating and utilizing its resources such that it is self sufficient and has the ability to persist over the long run (Salama, 1998). Ecotourism has been a rising trend over the past few years, therefore by shifting the building process towards sustainable development one would both benefit economically and help in the conservation of our invaluable natural resources. Another critical factor in the conservation process is the role of the government. It is essential that the government sets rigorous regulations that help protect our reefs. Even more important is that the government ensures the enforcement of these regulations. This leads us to the role of scientists in this matter. In order for the government to set forth reasonable regulations, research studies that provide estimates of the coral reef’s carrying capacity need to be conducted. By calculating the amount of stress a reef can tolerate in a given year, governments can then establish policies that ensure that these estimates are not exceeded. Finally, one must emphasize the role of the individual in the conservation process. Social awareness is an incredibly powerful tool that is unfortunately lacking in Egypt. Via education, individuals can be made aware of the significant consequences that may result from their actions. By introducing a sense of environmental awareness in individuals, many of the direct threats to the reef can be avoided. Furthermore, incorporating environmental awareness in the education system in schools can ensure that future generations are well equipped and have the ability to effectively utilize and sustain their natural resources.

Coral reefs are under a severe threat today and unless significant initiatives are taken to alter the situation, our nation may lose an exceptionally valuable natural resource. One can not identify one clear solution to this predicament; in fact it is only through the cooperation among the government, society and the scientific community that a significant improvement may be hoped for.