As the Coral Triangle face increasingly large amounts of stress, it is imperative that conservation efforts are undertaken immediately. If conservation efforts are not delivered promptly, it is predicted that the Coral Triangle will be completely lost forever by 2100. When that happens, there will be serious negative consequences for plants and animals, even humans! An estimated 100 million individuals will lose their main source of income. Additionally, global and regional food security will be threatened, as the region’s ability for food production decreases by 80%.

Fortunately, there are ongoing conservation efforts in the Coral Triangle, such as the Coral Triangle Initiative. Such conservation initiatives emphasize on creating sustainable tourism, fishing, and aquaculture opportunities for the locals. Most importantly, the need to protect the Coral Triangle has received strong governmental support from countries surrounding the region.

Coral Triangle Initiative

© Coral Triangle Initiative

The Coral Triangle Initiative is an agreement introduced in 2009 for countries surrounding the area to participate collectively in the conservation of the Coral Triangle. This agreement provides a platform for the various countries to come together to find plausible solutions to tackle the conservation issue. Moreover, the agreement simplifies the process for international action plans to be executed. By 2020, they aim to (1) sustainably manage 10% of the Coral Triangle, (2) reduce the environmental footprint of fisheries and tourism, and (3) strengthen food security for the local communities.