Philippines creates new marine protected area around panaon island as global coral reefs face climate crisis

While a alarming new scientific report warns that the world has crossed its first climate tipping point and coral reefs could face irreversible decline without dramatic action on global warming, the Philippines is demonstrating that local conservation efforts can still make a meaningful difference. The Southeast Asian nation has established a new marine protected area around Panaon Island, offering hope for one of the planet’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems.

Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle—the world’s most biodiverse marine region—Panaon Island represents a conservation success story. The island’s coral reefs boast an impressive 60% coral coverage, three times higher than the Philippines’ national average. These thriving reefs provide critical habitat for an extraordinary array of marine life, including whale sharks, sea turtles, and the endangered Philippine duck. The surrounding seagrass meadows and mangrove forests further enhance the area’s ecological value while protecting coastal communities from storm surges and serving as vital nurseries for local fish populations.

However, the new marine sanctuary faces significant challenges. A recent 21-day expedition by ocean conservation organization Oceana documented concerning threats including illegal destructive fishing practices, plastic pollution that is suffocating corals and marine wildlife, and infestations of crown-of-thorns starfish—an invasive species capable of devastating entire reef systems. Despite these pressures, the establishment of formal protections around Panaon Island demonstrates how local communities and governments can create “pockets of resilience” that give coral reefs and the people who depend on them a fighting chance against climate change.