About

It is a roughly triangular area surrounding the tropical waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.

It covers 5.7 million sq. km or 2.2 million sq. mi between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Coral and Marine Diversity

It is home to 76% of the world’s shallow-water reef-building coral species.

It is also known as the "Amazon of the seas" due to its rich marine biodiversity.

About 95% of the Coral Triangle's diversity is distributed in Bird’s Head Peninsula of Indonesia, with 574 coral species.

Significant Coral Sites

Raja Ampat Archipelago with 553 coral species) and Verde Island Passage in the Philippines are important biodiversity centres.

Tubbataha Reef Natural Park in the Philippines and Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia are other important sites, which are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Marine Species Diversity

It hosts over 52% of Indo-Pacific reef fish and 37% of global reef fish species. Out of these over 3,000 are bony fish species.

Significant species are whale sharks, coelacanths and chimaerans.

It has 950 species of molluscs and 458 crustacean species.

It is also the habitat for 6 of 7 marine turtle species.

Mangrove and Seagrass

Corals are the largest mangrove forest globally and they are essential for biodiversity.

There are 21 species of seagrass found here, which covers 58,550.63 sq. km. The Seagrass is found here are of four families i.e. Hydrocharitaceae, Cymodoceaceae, Zosteraceae and Ruppiaceae.

Threats

The unsustainable fishing practices, pollution from coastal development, oil spills and climate change promoted coral bleaching pose significant threats to the corals here.

Conservation 

World Wide Fund for Nature’s Coral Triangle Program (2007) addresses ecological threats.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the “Coral Triangle” recently seen in the news: 

1. It is a triangular area surrounding Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
2. Bird’s Head Peninsula of Indonesia is the region in the coral triangle with highest coral diversity.
3. Raja Ampat Islands, an UNESCO World Heritage Site are situated within the Coral Triangle.

Which of the above  statements are correct? 

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1, 2 and 3 only

D) None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: 

It is a roughly triangular area surrounding the tropical waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.

It covers 5.7 million sq. km or 2.2 million sq. mi between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Statement 2 is correct: 

It is home to 76% of the world’s shallow-water reef-building coral species.

It is also known as the "Amazon of the seas" due to its rich marine biodiversity.

About 95% of the Coral Triangle's diversity is distributed in Bird’s Head Peninsula of Indonesia, with 574 coral species.

Statement 3 is correct: 

Raja Ampat Archipelago with 553 coral species) and Verde Island Passage in the Philippines are important biodiversity centres here.

Tubbataha Reef Natural Park in Philippines and Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia are other important sites, which are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites.