If you've ever been to the Philippines to dive, or to any of the five other countries that make up the Coral Triangle region, then you have probably been amazed by the diversity and beauty of life present at some dive sites, and alarmed by the damage evident at other sites. While conservation efforts are increasing throughout the Coral Triangle, the Philippines' Tubbataha Reef is leading the way toward important changes which we hope will ultimately help to mitigate the threats the region's coral reefs face.
Diversity Hangs in the Balance
The coral triangle, which consists of the waters surrounding Indonesia, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, contains at least 500 species of reef building corals. It is recognized as the global center of marine biodiversity, and as such, it is high on the list of global priorities for conservation. Sometimes referred to as the Amazon of the Seas, this region covers 5.7 million square kilometers of ocean ecosystem, and more than 120 million people rely on its biological resources for survival.
Alarmingly, over 85 percent of reef habitat in the Coral Triangle region is directly threatened by human activity. Coastal development, pollution from watersheds, and overfishing are the greatest threats facing the region. As scientists are quick to point out, humans have control over these anthropogenic threats. Despite this fact, efforts to eliminate threats are often too little, too late. But there are some bright spots amid gloomy predictions. The Nature Conservancy says only about one percent of marine protected areas in the coral triangle are effectively managed, and of those, Tubbataha Reef is leading the way.
In the decades that the reef's resources have been monitored since its 1988 inception as the Philippines' first marine park, successes are emerging. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1993, Tubbataha Reef is under constant guard by armed personnel who provide protection against poachers, and civilian staff who ensure diving regulations are enforced. All the hard work has paid off, and today, this marine protected area is among the world's best dive sites - not to mention its status as a successful reef habitat which serves as a hub of life where more than 1,000 species thrive.
Now, marine protected areas throughout the Coral Triangle region have begun stepping up enforcement efforts. Not only are diving regulations being more strictly enforced, people are becoming better educated about the importance of preserving diversity. Local economies are benefitting because of increased ecotourism - particularly from diving - and governmental agencies are recognizing the value an improved environment offers, not just to tourists, but to the people who live and work in the island nations.
The Coral Triangle - and marine environments around the world - have a long way to go if they are to rebound from the damage humanity has caused in less than a century. Tubbataha Reef serves as a valuable illustration, proving that when destructive blast and poison fishing are halted, and when fishing regulations are enforced, people can live in harmony with the oceans.