Coral Triangle: Act now to prevent disaster

Straits Times Forum 19 Jun 09;

WE AT WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) would like to thank Miss Lau Ying Shan for her letter, 'Walk the talk and consume ethically' (June 10). We are grateful that she raised the environmental challenges the Coral Triangle is facing.

The recent WWF-University of Queensland report, The Coral Triangle And Climate Change: Ecosystems, People And Societies At Risk, highlights the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems in that geographical region, and is a call for action to everyone to take concrete steps to avoid the most disastrous consequences.

If the world does not take effective action on climate change, coral reefs will disappear from the Coral Triangle by the end of the century, the ability of the region's coastal environments to feed people will decline by 80 per cent, and the livelihoods of around 100 million people will have been lost or severely impacted.

However, the report also shows there is an opportunity to avoid a worst-case scenario in the region and instead build a resilient and robust Coral Triangle in which economic growth, food security and the natural environment are maintained. This is if significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are backed up by international investment in strengthening the region's natural environments.

Over-exploitation of the reefs is also driving endangered species to the brink of extinction. It is not just a biodiversity problem but also a human and social problem for the 120 million people who depend on the Coral Triangle for their livelihoods and the millions of other who are sourcing their fish protein from the Coral Triangle region - including us in Singapore.

Sustainable consumption of seafood will safeguard the fish resources of this magnificent region and food security. Early next year, WWF will launch a seafood guide to address the issue of sustainable seafood consumption. The guide will inform consumers and retailers about the sustainability of seafood types in the wild, so they can make better choices in the seafood they buy and the seafood they offer for sale. Indirectly, their decisions will have a positive influence on protecting biodiversity in the Coral Triangle.

Amy Ho (Ms)
Managing Director
WWF Singapore