Coral Triangle

Covering approximately 6 million square kilometres, the region contains 76 percent of the world's known shallow-water reef-building coral species and 37 percent of the world's reef fish species. Its high biodiversity is further evidenced by the presence of six of the world's seven marine turtle species. The Bird's Head Seascape in Indonesian Papua is identified as the specific epicentre of this coral diversity, hosting 574 species. The Coral Triangle is vital to human populations, directly supporting the livelihoods of more than 120 million people who rely on its resources for food, income, and coastal protection. The region's marine ecosystems provide essential services, including commercial fisheries and nature-based tourism, which contribute billions of dollars to local and global economies annually. Despite its ecological and economic importance, the Coral Triangle faces severe threats from both local human activities and global environmental changes. Overfishing is considered a primary threat, with some areas experiencing significant declines in fish populations due to unsustainable harvesting and destructive practices such as blast and cyanide fishing. Land-based pollution from coastal development, agriculture, and logging further degrades reef health by introducing sediment and chemicals. Climate change poses an additional, existential risk to the region. Rising ocean temperatures and acidification lead to mass coral bleaching and reduced growth rates, which weaken the structural integrity of the reefs. Projections indicate that without significant action, these environmental pressures could lead to the loss of coral reefs and severely impact the food security and livelihoods of the millions of people who depend on them.