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Coral Triangle
Home to the world’s most abundant variety of corals and sea life
A featherstar in the Indo-Pacific Ocean
© WWF-Canon / Jürgen FREUND
*URGENT* Tropical Forests and Coral Reefs Need Your Help
*NEW* Join us as we explore a hidden treasure in the Coral Triangle
Spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, this extraordinary area holds the richest concentration of iridescent corals, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and marine plants in the world. Labyrinths of limestone reefs, extensive sea grass meadows and coastal mangrove forests attract sea turtles and giants of the sea such as humpback whales to feed, breed and rest in the rich and sheltered waters.
Clown triggerfish use disruptive coloration to confuse predators.
© WWF-Canon / Cat HOLLOWAY
For more than 20 years, WWF has been working on the frontlines to address the challenges in the Coral Triangle -- from research and community-based resource management, collaboration with governments and regional fishery management bodies on policy reform, to promoting best management practices for the private sector, and conducting awareness raising activities.
In 2007, the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI)—a new multilateral partnership to help safeguard the marine and coastal resources of the Coral Triangle for future generations—was launched. In 2008, WWF launched the WWF Coral Triangle Program to support the Coral Triangle Initiative and ensure the health of the region's natural treasures and the millions of livelihoods that depend on it
WWF's vision: Protect the resilience and the native species through collaboratively managed practices across political and cultural boundaries and create economic opportunities for the people who live here and depend on natural resources for their livelihoods.
The place. Off the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, the Coral Triangle covers almost 1.6 billion acres—an area equal in size to half of the United States. Its waters hold an array of over 600 reef-building coral species—which encompasses 75 percent of all species known in the world.
The species . The region is home to 3,000 species of fish, including commercially vital yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye tuna. Along with whales and dolphins, its waters attract whale sharks—the world’s largest fish—and coelacanths, a “living fossil” fish believed to predate dinosaurs. The shores are also nesting grounds for five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles.
The people . The majority of people in the Coral Triangle live along its shores. Most local residents remain deeply connected to the sea, as fishing and tourism are primary sources for their livelihoods. From generations of living in balance with a wealth of fish, birds and marine mammals, the region's cultures have acquired unrivaled skills in boat building and nautical navigation.
Related Global Markets
Climate Change | Fishing | Aquaculture | International Finance | Wildlife Trade
