Coral Triangle

The Coral Triangle is a marine region spanning parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands. Its exceptionally high coral and reef-fish diversity has earned it the name “Amazon of the seas.”

Coral reef: A marine ecosystem built largely from calcium-carbonate structures produced by reef-building corals. These ecosystems form the region’s defining habitats.
Larval dispersal: The movement of young animal life stages from spawning or breeding sites to settlement habitats. Currents connect reef populations by carrying coral and fish larvae between islands.
Coral Triangle Initiative: A regional partnership among six Coral Triangle countries to protect marine and coastal resources. It coordinates cross-border conservation and sustainable-use efforts in the region.
Ecosystem services: The benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including food, coastal protection, and cultural value. Coral Triangle reefs provide benefits central to coastal communities.
Coral: A marine animal in the class Anthozoa, often living in colonies and sometimes building reefs. Reef-building corals create much of the habitat that supports the region’s diversity.
Indonesian Throughflow: The flow of Pacific Ocean water through Indonesian seas into the Indian Ocean. This major current links the region’s ocean basins and influences its marine conditions.
Marine protected area: A clearly defined marine area managed to conserve nature and associated cultural or economic values. Protected areas are a key tool for conserving Coral Triangle habitats and species.
Coastal protection: The reduction of erosion, flooding, and wave impacts through natural or engineered barriers. Reefs dissipate wave energy along many Coral Triangle coastlines.
Indo-Pacific: A biogeographic region spanning tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Coral Triangle lies within this broader marine region.
Ocean currents: Large-scale, persistent movements of seawater driven by wind, tides, and differences in density. Currents shape the dispersal and environmental conditions of organisms across the region.

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