The coral triangle is an area in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. This area is also known as “Amazon of the seas”. It covers almost 4 million square miles of ocean. The coral triangle is surrounded by Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Timor Leste, and the Solomon Islands. The Coral Triangle region is home to around 363 million people and involves economic zones where each country has exclusive rights to marine resources. This area is also known for its biological diversity. For example, five species of tuna use the coral triangle for spawning, and also their juveniles grow there. So therefore, it is the biggest area for tuna fisheries. This area supports more than 120 people directly, but people all around the world benefit from this area. The Coral Triangle Knowledge Network estimates that the area earns around $3 billion in foreign exchange from fisheries exports and another $3 billion from coastal tourism every year.
The area is considered the epicenter of marine biodiversity, and therefore we have to protect it. It is also home to different coral species. To be exact, there is the highest diversity of corals. 76% of coral species of all live there. The diversity of different coral reef species is also the biggest in this area. There are 37% of the world’s coral reef fish species. There are also 50% of the world’s mussel species. There are six out of seven sea turtle species, and there’s also the world’s biggest mangrove forest.
It is hard to predict what is going to happen with the coral reef. However, there are some trends in the climate change, and based on them we can predict how the conditions might change in the next 50 to 100 years.
Scientists have noticed that the ocean temperatures surrounding the coral triangle have already changed. They have already changed by 0.09 to 0.12 degrees, and it is estimated that by the end of this century they will increase by 1 to 4 degrees. This puts stress on coral reefs by increasing bleaching, diseases, and mortality. When the increase is a little more than 2 degrees, then it will destroy most of the coral reefs.
Ocean acidification is another danger to coral reefs. The acid rains have already changed the pH downward by 0.1 pH units. The acid in the oceans pushes down the consecration of carbonate ions. Therefore, limiting the ability of corals and other marine calcifiers to build their skeletons. It is estimated that by 2020–2050, the coral reefs in the Coral Triangle will start to crumble and disappear because the corals will fail to maintain the calcium-carbonate structure on which they are based. This doesn’t affect only the corals. It also affects the tens of thousands of species that depend on the coral reef system. In the longer term, protection of coastal towns and infrastructure by coral reefs from ocean waves could disappear, with potentially catastrophic consequences for millions of people, particularly when combined with rapid sea-level rise and more intense storms.
In the future, the Coral Triangle area might experience more severe weather conditions. Weather is hard to predict and different weather models also show sometimes different results. Scientists don’t know if the location or frequency of tropical cyclones is going to change, but they say that extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent. But still in this area some changes are already noticed. For example, the annual variability of the monsoon rainfall has increased. Also, the try-seasons will be more extreme. The majority of the Coral Triangle is outside of the cyclone belt and is likely to be untouched. However, the Philippines and Solomon Islands are likely to experience to more severe weather conditions.
Scientists predict that the sea level will rise by 30 to 60 cm by the year 2100. The sea level has already increased. Some scientists even think that the rise might be almost one meter. This rise will have a catastrophic impact on people who are living around the Coral Triangle.
In conclusion, the climate is not the only thing that is threatening the Coral Triangle. For example, overfishing, destructive fishing, pollution, and coastal development are also threats to the wildlife in this area. The changing climate is threatening coral reefs through bleaching and ocean acidification. Coastlines are also more fragile because of sea level rise and more frequent storms.
Sources:
http://ctatlas.coraltriangleinitiative.org/About
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Triangle
http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/WWFBinaryitem12250.pdf
https://coraltriangle.org/conservation/Conservation-CoralTriangle-Marine-Culture-Biodiversity-Fisheries.html
