What Is It
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Located in waters off the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, the Coral Triangle covers almost 1 million km2 – an area about half the size of the United States. These waters as the global centre of marine biodiversity and hold the highest diversity of luminating coral, fish, crustaceans and marine plant species in the world. The area is not only unique for its marine ecosystems, but it also benefits local
communities and governments. It currently sustains over 120 million people from coastal resources and brings in more than $12 billion a year from nature-based tourism. Within this nursery, 76% of the worlds coral specie, 6 of the world's 7 marine turtle species and at least 2228, 3000 specie of fish reef fish species, inhabit.
communities and governments. It currently sustains over 120 million people from coastal resources and brings in more than $12 billion a year from nature-based tourism. Within this nursery, 76% of the worlds coral specie, 6 of the world's 7 marine turtle species and at least 2228, 3000 specie of fish reef fish species, inhabit.
Threats
This abundant marine life is now at risk. Unsustainable fishing, poorly planned development, pollution, growing population, overfishing, bycatch and the effects of climate change are all contributing to the degradation of coral mortality and local extinction in the Coral Triangle. Although fishing is an essential source of income and food for people living around the Coral Triangle, fish are being depleted in a massive proportion that is not necessary.WWF (World Wildlife Fund), is an organisation that develops sustainable solutions that will both benefit local communities and businesses and save one of the most diverse marine habitats on Earth, such as the beautiful Coral Triangle.
Please visit WWF's website, to find out more reguarding the work they to sustain the Coral Triangle and how you can help sustain this fragile ecosystem.