Malaysia only has 1.27 percent of the world’s reefs, but those 3,600 square kilometers of coral reefs along the country’s coasts and islands play a major ecological role.
WRI’s 2002 publication, Reefs at Risk in Southeast Asia, found 85 percent of Malaysian reefs to be under medium- to high-level threats, mostly from human activities.
Reef Check Malaysia plans to do more surveys and more useful information by using sport divers. Relying on volunteers to inspect reefs is the unique feature of Reef Check, an ocean conservation program founded by a marine biologist in the United States in 1996 and now monitoring reefs in 70 countries.
For more, please go to an article in the Malaysia Star, published September 26, 2006 and titled “Checking on the reefs,” at: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/9/26/lifefocus/15450951&sec=lifefocus
Lauretta Burke, Senior Associate IIIlauretta@wri.org+1 (202) 729-7774Lauretta Burke is a Senior Associate in the People and Ecosystems Program of the World Resources Institute.
