Sheila A. McKenna - Böcker

The Togeans are a picturesque group of islands in the large Tomini Bay of Central Sulawesi, with coral reefs known for their vast biodiversity and rich marine resources. The Togean-Banggai archipelago was declared a marine tourist park in 1990, but fears exist about its long-term protection, and many organizations are working in concert to improve regional development planning and natural resource management, including community-protected areas. This rapid assessment offers an idea of the many species of fish, coral and other marine life present in the region, collecting the raw data necessary to ensure conservation efforts are informed and efficient.

The Raja Ampat islands are another example of a highly diverse coral ecosystem under threat. Such regions stand out not only because of their species richness, endemism and habitat level diversity, but also because of their relatively pristine condition. Yet portions of these coral ecosystems face imminent destruction and degradation because of over-fishing or destructive fishing, pollution, population growth and the urbanization of coastlines. This rapid assessment catalogs the current biological state of the Raja Ampat islands and assess potential threats.

Based on Conservation International's successful terrestrial biological survey approach, the Marine Rapid Assessment Program's goal is to rapidly generate and disseminate information on coastal and near-shore shallow-water marine biodiversity. Its surveys yield appropriate and realistic recommendations for conservation—and have, at times, resulted in the finding of new species.This marine assessment surveys the coral reefs of Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay Province, which plays an integral role in sustaining coastal communities and represents an important component of the nation's rich natural heritage. Until recently, this environment was under minimal stress, threatened only by a small human population. Now, however, there are increasing signs of habitat degradation due to land-based activities and over-harvesting of sedentary marine resources. Milne Bay Province contains some of the best examples of undisturbed coral reefs in the entire Coral Triangle region, making it vitally important for both government agencies and communities to respond to these threats.