This young nation, situated in the center of the “coral triangle”, boasts a few of the most biologically diverse waters on the earth.
Emerging from years of unrest, it now faces the challenge of protecting its coastlines and the communities that rely on them within the face of accelerating development.
Caption 1: Conservation International (CI) helped establish the country’s first five no-fishing zones in Nino Konis Santana National Park. The zones enable fish populations to get well, so communities have food security and potential diving sites are protected to generate tourism revenues.
Caption 2: At least 22 species of cetacean have been recorded in East Timor waters, including spinner dolphins and blue whales.
Caption 3: On the recommendation of Conservation International, the federal government of Timor-Leste has added 19 species to the marine protected species list, making fishing for these species illegal.
Caption 4: A migrating blue whale blows water.
Caption 5: An area diver collects seaweed.
Caption 6: Dugongs often inhabit seagrass meadows along the northern coast of East Timor. Some locals consider dugongs to be sacred animals and will not be hunted. However, they’re threatened by unsustainable fishing practices, coastal development and boat strikes.
Caption 7: Seagrass meadows, Atauro Island.
Caption 8: Stunning coral reefs along the coast of East Timor. A 2016 study found that its coral reefs are among the many healthiest and most diverse on the earth. The survey results showed a mean of 253 species of reef fish at each site, exceeding the previous record at Raja Ampat, a marine epicenter of biodiversity.
Caption 9: Timor-Leste’s waters, situated in the center of the “coral triangle,” support roughly 400 species of reef-building coral, comparable to those found on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
