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Coral triangle reefs threatened by human activities |
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Indonesia
More than 85 percent of reefs in the Coral Triangle are directly threatened by human activities, according to a new report by the World Resources Institute.
Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle found that overfishing, pollution and coastal development pose the greatest threats to reefs in the Coral Triangle countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. When combined with the threats from coral bleaching caused by rising ocean temperatures, the study found that more than 90 percent of Coral Triangle reefs are at risk.
The Coral Triangle hosts nearly 30 percent of the world's coral reefs and more than 3,000 species of fish. More than 130 million people living in the region are dependent on reef ecosystems for food, jobs and revenue from tourism.
"The benefits reefs provide are at risk, which is why concerted action to mitigate threats to reefs across the Coral Triangle region is so important," said Lauretta Burke, senior associate at WRI and a lead author of the report.
Less than 1 percent of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Coral Triangle were found to be effective at reducing threats from overfishing and destructive fishing.
Tempo
No. 49/12, July 31, 2012
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