MANILA, Philippines (24 Oct 2008) — Six Asia-Pacific nations which make up the Coral Triangle have agreed to a new plan aimed at protecting marine species. At a meeting in Manila, officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and East Timor agreed to sign the Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Securities Plan of Action. The draft document maps out a series of steps to protect, preserve and promote coral reefs and the marine species they nurture. The document states that "marine and coastal resources are under significant and increasing threat" and that the coral triangle "sits at a crossroads of rapidly expanding populations, economic growth and international trade." Dubbed the Amazon of the Seas, the Coral Triangle covers 5.7 million square kilometers where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet and contains 33 percent of the world's coral reefs, 76 percent of known coral species, 37 percent of known coral reef fish species and the world's greatest extent of mangrove forests. Some 600 species of reef-building coral can be found in the Coral Triangle. Coral reefs in the region are threatened by human impact including overpopulation, pollution, overfishing, tourism, global warming, coastal development and scuba diving. | | Human impact, including global warming, pollution, coastal development, tourism, overfishing and scuba diving threaten coral reefs throughout the world. |
