WWF gala dinner for the Coral Triangle

Boost for coral cause
Straits Times 22 Nov 08;

A WORLD Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) gala dinner last night raised between $400,000 and $500,000 to help protect South-east Asia's coral reefs.

The money will go to conservation projects in the Coral Triangle, which spans the waters off Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

The area is home to more than 75 per cent of the world's coral species, as well as over 3,000 species of fish, turtles and marine mammals. It faces problems such as overfishing, destructive fishing methods, and coral bleaching, in which corals lose their colour due to pollution and climate change, among other things.

Millions of people who live in the Coral Triangle depend on the ecosystem for food and income.

The funds raised will support WWF initiatives such as coral research and a consumer guide on sustainable seafood.

At the dinner, a gown worn by South African Olympic swimmer and model Charlene Wittstock was auctioned off.

WWF officials said tentative totals suggested that the event raised $400,000 to $500,000 in donations. That total does not include the auction proceeds.

GRACE CHUA