Empowering Women, Peace and Security in the Coral Triangle: Bridging Civil-Military and State Boundaries to Tackle Maritime Environmental Crimes
Publisher: Pacific Forum
Author(s): Lily Schlieman, Maryruth Belsey Priebe, Charity Borg, Anny Barlow, and Tevvi Bullock
Date: 2024
Topics: Gender, Governance, Renewable Resources
Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste
The Coral Triangle, spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, is renowned for its unparalleled marine biodiversity. The region is home to more than 550 unique species of coral and thousands of species of reef fish, many of which are endemic to the area. It serves as a breeding ground for cetaceans and other marine megafauna. The Coral Triangle provides food security to over 130 million people living in and around the region. Yet it faces mounting threats from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and other forms of maritime crime, including wildlife trafficking and pollution which threaten the region’s human and environmental security. Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea in particular are heavily dependent on marine natural resources for food, environmental, and economic security. They are also challenged by a variety of human/environmental security threats that exacerbate fragile community and national security.