Palawan was named Travel+Leisure’s best island of 2013. Its amazing biodiversity has been conserved through Marine Protected Areas WWF helped establish throughout the Coral Triangle. © Jurgen Freund/WWF-Canon.

A Rainbow of Marine Protected Areas

Maddi Higgins

Only 2.3% of the world’s oceans are protected. That’s why WWF works to create Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). An MPA is an area designated to protect marine ecosystems, processes, habitats and species as well as promote positive social impacts, opens in new tab. They include marine reserves, no-take zones, marine parks, and sanctuaries around the world. MPAs preserve the marine biodiversity we enjoy in our travels, and ecotourism is an important tool keeping MPAs financially sustainable. Here’s a slideshow exploring the colors and countries of Marines Protected Areas around the world:

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