Coral Triangle Day 2022: Mary Kay Inc sheds light on preservation efforts

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- To celebrate Coral Triangle Day, Mary Kay, a global sustainability advocate, sheds light on the efforts being made to preserve the health of this region which is vital to the overall health of our world.

The Coral Triangle, home to over 120 million people, is a vital source of food and biodiversity for the planet.

The waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste are by far, the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the ocean, therefore making them commonly known as the rainforest of the sea.

“The Coral Triangle has the highest coral diversity in the world. Almost 80 per cent of the world’s coral species are found there. Fifteen coral species are endemic to the region, which means they aren’t found anywhere else on the planet,” said Dr Elizabeth Mcleod, who leads on reef conservation for The Nature Conservancy.

“This area is also home to the highest diversity of coral reef fishes in the world, including 37 per cent of the world’s coral reef fish species, and 56 per cent of the coral reef fishes in the Indo-Pacific region. Our partnership with funders like Mary Kay enables TNC and our local partners to restore and protect this critical coral reef region.”

Recognising the importance of this valuable ecosystem and its vast biodiversity, the six countries that make up the Coral Triangle joined together to focus on the preservation of the area.

According to a statement, The Nature Conservancy, with support from Mary Kay, has created regional-level conservation initiatives that have a significant impact on the territory.

For more than two decades, TNC has established strong country programmes in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands while also growing trusted partnerships with local communities, businesses, and governments.

Extensive work has been done to establish Marine Protected Area networks across the Coral Triangle. In Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Ridges to Reefs planning, which unites local knowledge and the best available science, has been supported and developed to facilitate the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.

The Nature Conservancy also works collectively with the Coral Triangle Initiative, a multilateral partnership of six countries working together to sustain coastal and marine resources, to ensure that a gender-responsive and inclusive platform for conservation is created.

-- BERNAMA