Regional plan of action: Coral triangle initiative on coral reefs, fisheries and food security (CTI-CFF)

Abstract

The “The Coral Triangle” (CT) region is located along the equator at the confluence of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans (see Annex 1). Using coral and reef fish diversity as the two major criteria, the boundaries of this region are defined by scientists as covering all or part of the exclusive economic zones of six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. Covering only 1.6% of the planet’s oceanic area, there is broad scientific consensus that the CT represents the global epicenter of marine life abundance and diversity -- with 76% of all known coral species, 37% of all known coral reef fish species, 53% of the world’s coral reefs, the greatest extent of mangrove forests in the world, and spawning and juvenile growth areas for the world’s largest tuna fishery. Moreover, the biogeographical conditions within the CT may also enable the region to maintain its exceptional productivity in the face of future impacts of climate change, making it potentially the world’s most important “refuge” for marine life.