Try papers by David Bellwood (for example Bellwood et al. 2004: Confronting the Coral Reef Crisis) or Terence Hughes (for example: Phase Shifts, Herbivory, and the Resilience of Coral Reefs to Climate Change).

Start with this

Biodiversity of Coral Reefs: What are We Losing and Why?

KENNETH P. SEBENIntegrative and Comparative Biology Volume 34, Issue 1Pp. 115-133.

Elham, there are two social major needs of healthy coral reefs. One, increase in a several ways the catch of coastal fisheries, and two, they are the first defensive line to the storm tide. Look at the case of Cabo Pulmo in Baja California, Mexico, there are some literature over that case.

This is a good book "Coral Reefs of the Gulf Adaptation to Climatic Extremes, Series: Coral Reefs of the World, Vol. 3, Riegl, Bernhard; Purkis, Sam J. (Eds.), 2012, 379 p. I have a pdf in case you are interested drop an email can send you chapters you are intrested in.

Protection of coral reefs is important socially, economically, and ecologically. Socially, the most of coral reefs are located in developing countries where people are highly dependent on them for food, employment and livelihood. The decrease of catch from coral reefs in attributed to the loss of coral reefs and degradation of habitat health. This loss of coastal habitats will lead to social, economic and ecological consequences.

There are multiple perspectives on this question and is probably best handled in a multi perspective approach. Coral reefs have multiple effects from both the ecological side, economic side, and social side. These are often very case specific so if you want to answer this question in a meaningful way, i suggest to take a case study. Nonetheless it all comes down to biodiversity, protection of juvenile habitats for multiple species, economic benefits for tourism and food, social benefits in terms of culture and livelihood. Additional benefits are usually based on these

Elham, these are some articles about the cabo pulmo case:

Reyes-Bonilla 1997 Conserv. Biol. 11(2):838

Aburto-Oropeza et al 2007 Ecology 88:2220-2228

Aburto-Oropeza et al 2011 PLoS ONE 6(8)

About the topic in general:

Worm et al 2009 Science 314:787-790

Wantiez et al 1997 Coral Reefs 16:215-224

McClanahan et al 2007 Ecol. App. 17:1055-1067

McClanahan 2010 Conserv. Biol. 24:1519-1528

Graham et al 2003 Environ. Conserv. 30:200-208

Munby et al 2006 Science 311:98-101

Attached here are some undergrad studies Thesis on the issue. One done 7 - 10 years ago in 2003-2006, and another done 8 months ago. It involves ecological field surveys of coral reefs (e.g. for reef morphology and population of species) and perform questionnares on tourists and locals.

Heres another file

Coral reefs are a host to diverse groups of marine organisms. These organisms most of which maintain cordial symbiosis to each other help enhance energy balance in the ecosystems of marine. Also found in these reefs are the marine sponge-this organism has unique chemibiological and biodmedical properties of ecological and medical importance.

Apart from the answers already added, coral reefs are considered the "harbinger of climate change". As they are very sensitive to the changes in their ambience, which in turn may be related to global environmental changes, scientists are studying them to know and understand more about the climate related changes.

Coral Reefs of the Gulf Adaptation to Climatic Extremes, Series: Coral Reefs of the World, Vol. 3, Riegl, Bernhard; Purkis, Sam J. (Eds.), 2012, 379 p.

Did you get this book, if any specific chapter is required let me know.

Let the person who has this question in mind be taken to one of the most beautiful reefs- let him/her enjoy. Then ask him if it should be protected - if yes, ask him/her, why.

balance in aquatic life, protection of biodiversity in marine life, tourism goals, economic goals, environmental purposes, please go to http://www.hydrogeologie-wuerzburg.de/hu_e.htm

and see the thesis of Nedal Ouran

As a highly productive marine ecosystem, coral reefs provide a bunch of valuable goods and services to us. It has both the direct use value (recreational) and indirect use value (sanctuary for commercial and recreational fisheries).