Protecting the ‘Amazon of the ocean’, the Verde Island Passage

The Coral Triangle — often called the Amazon of the seas — is a marine biodiversity hotspot home to 76% of the world’s coral species, over 2,000 coral fish types, half a dozen marine turtle species. It is a nursery for tuna and a feeding ground for marine mammals. Over 120 million people rely on its resources for subsistence. Coastal communities depend on fishing for food and income, while coral reefs and mangroves support fish populations, attract tourism, and protect against floods.

In this event, Earth Insight, SkyTruth, CEED Philippines and Say no LNG will launch the Coral Triangle Oil and Gas Threat Assessment and will present a compelling picture and data on the imminent fossil fuel offshore and LNG expansion in the Coral Triangle, as well as discuss solutions to address such threats. New geospatial analysis will show that half of Coral Triangle’s unique and precious reef ecosystems are under oil and gas production or exploration blocks, with well over 300 such blocks in the Coral Triangle Implementation Area alone.

Following, we will dive into the Verde Island Passage (VIP), placed at the heart of the Coral Triangle in Southeast Asia a marine corridor known, as the ‘Center of the Center of marine shorefish biodiversity in the world. It is home to over 300 coral reef species and grand rock formations, and is akin to an Amazon of the ocean.

Unfortunately, the VIP is confronting multiple threats – from rising sea temperatures to the massive expansion of industrial activities within its vicinity.

This event seeks to highlight the plight of the globally significant VIP and call attention to drivers of marine biodiversity loss in the marine corridor. It also seeks to draw attention to the urgency of supporting action toward increase protection for the VIP, and the Coral Triangle as a whole.

Lead Organisation: Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED)

Co-organisation(s): Earth Insight

DOWNLOAD THE EVENT AGENDA (.PDF)

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