People-centered marine conservation for food security

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms; provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms; and are a source of protein and livelihood for many hundreds of millions of people. Despite their significant value reefs around the world are severely at risk. Coral reef ecosystems of the Coral Triangle, in and between Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and East-Timor, are among the most threatened. Approximately 95% are at risk. Overfishing has affected almost every reef in the region. Additional threats are destructive fishing practices, land-based pollution, coastal development and climate change. The Coral Triangle Initiative is the first multilateral partnership of its kind, uniting six different nations to improve food security through the sustainable management of marine natural resources. One of the goals is to establish a fully functioning and effectively managed region-wide Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System using an ecosystems and people-centric approach. Up to 50% of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed and another 60% are under threat, making the Coral Triangle Initiative’s work valuable to other countries who are facing similar challenges.

http://www.coraltriangleinitiative.org/