Wintertime often brings thoughts of tropical getaways, with warm oceans and colorful coral reefsnot far from shore. But reality is now intruding on this beautiful image in a frightening way because the coral reefs are in trouble.

We've known for years of the threats posed to coral by dredging, pollution and harmful fishing practices. Now, according to a new National Wildlife Federation report, global climate change joins these threats in jeopardizing the future of more than 60 percent of the world's coral reefs.

Rising sea temperatures fueled by climate change is causing coral to lose a type of algae on which they depend, and the resulting bleaching phenomenon indicates coral are starving to death. Widespread coral bleaching suggests that starvation, disease and other climate-related factors may already have damaged some of these vibrant ecosystems beyond the point of recovery.

More than beauty is at stake. Coral reefs are home to more than one- quarter of all marine wildlife species and play a critical role in the ocean food chain. They protect coastlines from storms and erosion. They support thriving tourism and fishing industries that contribute millions of dollars to local, state and regional economies. We cannot afford to let them die.

Fortunately, we can slow global climate change and take other actions to protect and restore the world's coral reefs. NWF is working to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions believed to cause climate change. For example, we're pressing Congress to end the exemption of light trucks and sport utility vehicles from higher fuel economy standards and to close the loophole allowing major coal-fired power plants to escape current pollution requirements of the Clean Air Act. Individually, each of us can help by purchasing fuel-efficient cars and conserving energy to reduce our personal use of fossil fuels. NWF is also advocating strong local and national policies to improve coastal water quality, with direct benefits for coral-reef conservation.

You can learn more about the problem and potential solutions by reading Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Last Straw for a Threatened Ecosystem on-line at www.nwf.org. It reminds us that humankind now has the power to damage the global life- support systems on which all life ultimately depends. But the purpose of our report is not to frighten; we hope it will inspire you to take action. Only together can we tackle a problem so big and so serious as global climate change and its impacts on coral reefs and wildlife. Please remember this as your wintertime thoughts drift to images of warm oceans and the reefs beneath. It's up to us to make sure those reefs will be there to fuel the daydreams of our children in the twenty-first century.