WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Officials forging plan to protect threatened marine species
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-22 16:22

MANILA -- Officials from six Asia-Pacific nations, whose territories include some of the most unique and threatened marine species in the world, are forging a draft plan to protect these natural treasures, the Asian Development Bank ( ADB) said on Wednesday.

Representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, the six countries that make up the so-called "Coral Triangle", are expected to finalize The Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security Plan of Action at a meeting to be held in Manila, ADB said in a statement. ADB is hosting a parallel meeting of partner agencies that support the Coral Triangle initiative.

The Coral Triangle, dubbed the "Amazon of the Seas", covers a 5.7 million square kilometer expanse of ocean with 75 percent of all known coral species in the world.

This region is facing a grave threat from climate change, which many scientists believe is causing sea water temperatures to rise, bleaching and killing off reefs. Harmful fishing practices have also caused serious damage to vital ecosystems, with the rising sea level from climate change further threatening these resources in the longer run.

The Coral Triangle initiative, a regional effort to preserve and manage the region's marine resources, was launched last year by the six countries, along with international partners, including the ADB, which is coordinating the mobilization of financial support for the plan of action.

"Elements of the action plan are already getting underway, and it will be fully operational after its endorsement by leaders of the participating countries at a Coral Triangle Initiative Summit in Indonesia, planned for May 2009," said David McCauley, ADB's Principal Environment Specialist.

The plan focuses on a series of steps to protect and sustain marine life in the triangle. It will include local, national and regional projects that work towards common objectives agreed on by the countries.