The coral reef system in Boracay, an island known for its white sand beaches the world over, has been seriously degraded by tourism-related activities in the last two decades, a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) showed. Conducted by Filipino and Japanese scientist under JICA's Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Adaptive Management (CECAM) project, the study also highlighted unsustainable tourism activities as the cause of coral reef degradation. The Coral reefs also act as a natural barrier and lessen the impact of strong waves on the beach, reducing sand erosion.

Monzon, A. (2015, June 5). 'Tourism damaged Boracay reefs'. Business World, p. S1/11.