via : wwf

A recent study commissioned by the always biocentric and deep World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has estimated the abundant coral reefs in the Coral Triangle will disappear by the end of the century, slowly taking the lives of these beautiful animals and devastating an economy that supports roughly 100 million people.  The Coral Triangle in South East Asia spans from Indonesia, to Fiji and north to Japan and is estimated to contain 30% of the world’s coral reefs, while containing 76% of  reef building coral species and 35% of reef fish species.

The report also states that 40% of the coral reefs and mangroves in the area have been lost over the past 40 years. However, it says if action is taken on global warming, over fishing, and pollution we can prevent the reef’s collapse. (How about an order of restitutive justice?)

Some excerpts:

“Stabilising (sic) atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) at or below 450 parts per million (ppm) is absolutely essential if Coral Triangle countries are to meet their objective of retaining coastal ecosystems and allowing people to prosper in the coastal areas of the Coral Triangle.

“In the case of fish, the elimination of coral reefs compromises the survival of at least 30 to 50% of species the need corals and the reefs they build for food, shelter and reproduction.”

The  summary report, which admittedly  reads more like an annual report than a scientific study, can be found here: WWF Coral Triangle and Climate Change Summary Report [PDF].

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