RI islands world's richest reefs

RI islands world's richest reefs

JAKARTA: Some of the world's most experienced tropical marine
scientists have confirmed that the Indonesian islands of Raja
Ampat, West of Sorong, Papua, contain the coral reefs with the
richest biodiversity in the world.

The conclusion was made recently after the scientists
completed a three-week expedition, led by the Nature Conservancy,
to the Raja Ampat islands.

The scientists found 465 coral species, with at least 20
species defying identification and under further study.

With the finding, the total corals from the Raja Ampat islands
reached 505 species, 64 percent of all known coral species in the
world.

At least 828 fish species were also recorded, raising the
total for Raja Ampat to 1,065 species, among the highest
diversity in the world.

"The waters around Raja Ampat are teeming with a diversity of
fish and corals surpassing any place else on earth," Steve
McCormick, president of Nature Conservancy said in a statement.

"... this survey is clear proof that there is still a chance
to conserve significant and high quality island and reef
ecosystems in Indonesia," Conservancy's Indonesia country
director Ian Dutton said. --JP