Videos
Our oceans are sometimes referred to as our planet’s forgotten lungs. While forests—which usually get the credit for being the world’s “breathing” apparatus—do help maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, they cover roughly only a third of the Earth’s land area.
Conservation
A full 25 percent of all the marine life on the planet calls coral reefs home. But around the world, these natural habitats are in trouble. According to World Wildlife Fund, about one-quarter of coral reefs are considered damaged beyond repair, with another two-thirds under serious threat.
Conservation
Belize is fringed by a vibrant expanse of living coral, known as the Mesoamerican Reef System. It’s a Caribbean underwater paradise—a snorkeler’s dream and an endangered sea turtle’s lifeline. Stretching from Mexico to Guatemala, this is the world’s second largest reef system.
Nature & Wildlife
Earlier this year, the United Nations (UN), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Union of Concerned Scientists issued a report on climate change titled World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate.
Conservation
Cassie O’Connor’s commitment to conservation deepened after college when she co-managed a forestry station in Indonesia. The pristine Indonesian environment and rich culture have since brought her back repeatedly and have inspired her in various conservation roles she’s played over the years.
Nature & Wildlife
Islands evoke feelings of relaxation, not death, torture and imprisonment. However, Coiba Island off the coast of Panama was actually used by the country’s former military dictatorship as a prison. Now, Coiba Island Prison has undergone a unique transformation into Coiba National Park.
Nature & Wildlife
This October, veteran guide Lee Goldman will take a small crew of WWF’s snorkeling enthusiasts to Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Archipelago, where they’ll glide over some of the planet’s most remarkable shallow-reef habitats. The region has more than 500 species of coral and 1,500 different types of fish.
Videos
Watch manta rays “dance” gracefully above coral in Raja Ampat. The Raja Ampat Archipelago in Indonesia’s West Papua province has the wo ld’s greatest concentration of marine life for a region of its size.
Videos
The Raja Ampat Archipelago has the world’s greatest concentration of marine life – making it a fantastic snorkeling site. Raja Ampat is also an area where WWF is conducting conservation research and where it runs an annual snorkeling expedition for interested travelers.
Asia & The Pacific
By Lee Goldman The Philippines is a cluster of more than 7,000 islands, lying north of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. From north to south, the archipelago extends more than 1,850 kilometers. The Philippines are of volcanic origin; a large part of the terrain is mountainous, with fertile soils and spectacular landscapes.
Conservation
We humans have drained half the world’s wetlands and fully exploited or overexploited 75 percent of its fishing grounds.
