The Coral Triangle

The Coral Triangle spans coastal and marine areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.

The Coral Triangle is considered by scientists to be the global epicenter of marine diversity and a major center of coral evolution.  A full 76 percent of known coral species are found here and 37 percent of reef fish species. Extensive mangrove forests provide nurseries for the rich seas that have sustained our sea faring island people for millennia.  The reefs serve as spawning and breeding grounds for whales and dolphins, sea turtles, and huge fisheries.  The diverse reefs are also the seeding stock for the future of our planet’s coral reefs helping ensure adaptation as our natural communities respond to climate change and other global trends.

Today these fisheries provide food security for more than 126 million people in the region, bolster the nutritional intake of the urban and inland populations (an additional 240 million people), and provide fish for export to meet seafood demands around the globe.  However, the pressures of expanding populations, large-scale industrial fishing and trawling practices, and visions of short-term profits have led to the degradation of the natural processes that support the long-term health of these marine and coastal ecosystems, with severe consequences for the communities that depend upon them.  Excessive fishing, the dynamiting of reefs for construction materials, coastal development, climate change impacts, and the flow of sewage into the sea, are just some of the many threats that are taking a heavy toll on our marine heritage.  The lack of conservation awareness and education, coupled with the paucity of legal tenure and conservation tools, has limited the ability of local fishermen, communities, and governments to deter non-sustainable activities.

However, there is a regional awakening.  Our governments are now stepping up to the challenge and increasingly local community groups are as well.  For example, the Indonesian Government is making progress on its commitment to establish 20 million hectares of marine protected areas by 2020.  So too, many local communities are becoming increasingly vocal about their livelihoods – asking for a seat at the table to manage their traditional fishing grounds, put a halt to damaging activities, and earn income from new economic ventures such as tourism and lease rights.  They are asking to partner with government entities to ensure their needs are met and their futures secured, by a greater appreciation and respect for their marine assets.