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| Coral Triangle Atlas | |
|---|---|
| Name | Coral Triangle Atlas |
| Formation | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Manado, North Sulawesi |
| Region served | Coral Triangle |
| Languages | English, Indonesian |
Coral Triangle Atlas is a geospatial information system and online mapping portal focused on the marine biodiversity hotspot spanning parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It compiles spatial data on reefs, fisheries, conservation areas, and maritime features to support decision-making by organizations, governments, and communities across the region. The Atlas integrates datasets produced by international agencies, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations to inform planning for biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate resilience.
The Atlas provides interactive maps, downloadable datasets, and analytical tools that aggregate contributions from institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme, Global Environment Facility, World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation International, and the The Nature Conservancy. It links spatial layers on coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, marine protected areas, and fisheries with policy frameworks like the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Users range from national agencies in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste to research groups at the Smithsonian Institution, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the University of the Philippines. The platform supports collaboration among regional initiatives such as the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security and technical partners like National Aeronautics and Space Administration and United States Agency for International Development.
The Atlas originated amid regional multilateral efforts associated with the Coral Triangle Initiative launched in 2009, building on earlier mapping projects led by agencies including WWF-Indonesia, Conservation International Indonesia Program, and the Government of Indonesia. Early development involved funding and technical support from the Global Environment Facility through implementing agencies such as UNDP and IUCN. Academic partners like the Australian National University and the University of Queensland contributed scientific inputs, while mapping technologies incorporated advances from Esri, Google Earth Engine, and satellite programs like Landsat and Sentinel-2. The project evolved through collaborations with regional bodies such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
Coverage focuses on the biogeographic region encompassing the marine waters of six primary countries: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, collectively forming the Coral Triangle. The Atlas maps features across political boundaries including provinces like North Sulawesi, islands such as Sulawesi, Borneo, Mindanao, New Guinea, and reef systems like the Raja Ampat Islands, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, and portions of the Sulu-Sulawesi Sea. It integrates marine jurisdictional layers like exclusive economic zones used in negotiations mediated by forums including the ASEAN Regional Forum and bilateral agreements between states like Indonesia–Philippines relations.
Datasets encompass coral reef extents, mangrove coverage, seagrass beds, marine protected area boundaries, artisanal fishing effort, and cyclone exposure. Source contributors include the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, BirdLife International, ReefBase, and national agencies such as Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Tools use geoprocessing libraries from QGIS, cartography services by Esri ArcGIS Online, and remote sensing inputs from MODIS and Copernicus. Analytical modules support habitat risk assessments, connectivity modeling used in studies by James Cook University, and scenario planning aligned with frameworks by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Governance is multi-institutional, coordinated through partnerships among national governments, regional secretariats, and international donors such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Technical stewardship involves research centers like the Tropical Marine Science Institute and NGOs such as Marine Conservation Philippines and Blue Ventures. Training and capacity-building have been delivered in collaboration with institutions including the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and regional training centers supported by USAID and JICA. Policy uptake has been advanced through engagement with bodies like the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and national ministries including the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Indonesia).
The Atlas has informed marine spatial planning exercises in regions such as Papua Barat, guided delineation of marine protected areas like Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, and supported fisheries management interventions in the Sulu Sea. Conservation NGOs have used Atlas layers to prioritize reef restoration projects implemented by groups including Coral Triangle Center and Reef Check Foundation. Development partners applied Atlas analyses in climate adaptation projects funded by the Global Climate Change Alliance and disaster preparedness programs coordinated with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Academic studies published in journals like Nature Climate Change and Conservation Biology have cited Atlas-derived datasets for analyses of biodiversity hotspots and connectivity.
Critiques note data gaps in coverage for remote archipelagos, temporal inconsistencies between datasets, and limited resolution for local fisheries management in coastal communities such as those in Amir Muhammad Bay and Triton Bay. Scholars from institutions like the University of Papua New Guinea and Ateneo de Manila University have highlighted challenges in integrating traditional ecological knowledge held by groups including the Talaandig people and Badjao with spatial datasets. Concerns have been raised about dependency on external funding from donors like GEF and USAID and the need for stronger long-term institutionalization within national agencies such as the Philippine National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. Operational critiques reference interoperability issues with platforms managed by Global Fishing Watch and standards set by Open Geospatial Consortium.
Category:Geographic information systems Category:Marine conservation