Biodiversité sous marine en danger aux Philippines

In the Philippines, Bicol’s immensely beautiful marine environment and its fragile sea creatures face a grave threat—toxic pollution and siltation caused by mining operations in Rapu Rapu Island in Albay.

The Philippine government allowed Australian firm Lafayette Philippines Inc to start the extraction of gold, silver, copper and zinc within Rapu Rapu in April 2005 despite strong opposition from local and national groups concerned that toxic mine tailings will be released into the sea.

Just this month, an oil tanker sank in rough seas 19 miles southwest of the Philippines at the apex of the Coral Triangle. More than 53,000 gallons of oil have leaked into the home of the world's most abundant variety of coral reef plants and animals. If the remaining 475,000 gallons escape as feared, it will be the largest oil spill in this coral-rich country. At risk are species such as the Green sea turtle and Hawksbill turtle, living northeast of the spill in the Guimaras Strait.
The livelihoods of local people are also threatened, as many depend on the Coral Triangle's diverse ecosystems for food, tourism income and protection from storm surges and erosion. Not only is the spill damaging one of the most productive fishing grounds in the Philippines, but it is encroaching on several marine sanctuaries with pristine white sand beaches, coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests.

According to Dr. Jose Ingles, WWF coordinator for the Coral Triangle's Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, "A spill of this proportion is simply catastrophic."

WWF is urgently working to aid clean-up teams with mapping, up-to-the minute satellite images of the spill and scientific monitoring of its impact. To bring back this Coral Triangle ecosystem to its former beauty and productivity we have to act now and remain engaged for many years to come. We will work to restore the Taklong Island Marine Sanctuary and other areas where mangrove forests, fisheries and coral reefs have been severely contaminated.

Your support today will help WWF protect the Coral Triangle from this threat and future ones. WWF has been working in the Philippines for over a decade to promote sustainable coastal management through coral reef and fisheries programs designed to provide food and revenue for more than 370,000 coastal residents.

Every dollar you contribute today makes us that much more effective in protecting and preserving the Coral Triangle and reefs around the world, so please be as generous as you are able. Thank you for your support of WWF and enabling us to respond to urgent conservation threats.

Damage done to coral reefs takes thousands (even millions) of years for coral to rebuild. Destroyed reefs expose land to erosion and storm surges.
Sea turtles that surface in an oil slick can damage their eyes or lungs. Turtles may also be affected from a contaminated food supply or by absorption through the skin.