The Coral Triangle and Climate Change: ecosystems, people and societies at risk

Abstract

The Coral Triangle stretches across six countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste) and is the richest place on earth in terms of biodiversity. In no more than 1% of the Earth’s surface, evolution has produced species and ecosystems that are unrivalled in number, colour and diversity. Within its seas, lie the richest marine communities and ecosystems found anywhere on planet Earth. With over 30% of the world’s coral reefs, including 76% of the world’s reef building corals and over 35% of the world’s coral reef fish species, the Coral Triangle is remarkable and invaluable.

This report is a summary of a comprehensive study involving over 20 experts and based on 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles.