This week, we saw amazing news from New Caledonia, where the government has committed to stronger protection of its near-pristine coral reefs!
Read on to learn more about this conservation win and why it's important for us to have greater awareness of the threats we are facing.
Subject to numerous dangers, particularly from climate change, pollution and overfishing, coral reef habitats globally are at more risk than ever.
The world has already lost about half of its shallow water coral reefs, which is why we need to see more ambition like this in coral reef conservation.
The new protected areas are part of the Natural Park of the Coral Sea of New Caledonia - an enormous conservation zone of 1.3 million km² - that was created in 2014.
The five reefs covered under the new protection are considered exceptional examples of coral reef systems, and the surrounding areas provide important nesting areas for seabirds and green turtles, and habitat for humpback whales.
“With good management, these marine protected areas will help maintain fish populations and ecosystem health that will build the reefs’ resilience to the impacts of climate change in future. This leadership must inspire similar action by other governments.” - John Tanzer, Leader, Oceans, WWF.
Coral reefs support a quarter of all known marine life on the planet. In fact, the variety of life supported by coral reefs rivals that of the tropical forests of the Amazon or New Guinea.
This biodiversity translates directly into food security, income, and a multitude of other benefits to people. For example, although scientists have only just begun to understand how reefs can contribute to medicine, already coral reef organisms are being used in treatments for diseases like cancer and HIV.
Our mission is to stop the degradation of our planet's natural environment, and build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. Find out how we aim to achieve this through our nine global goals.
