The Philippines, sitting in the coral triangle, is home to a vast array of marine life, all of which in one way or another is struggling to survive a number human pressures. At a national level we are seeing broad declines in fish biomass and biodiversity and an ever-increasing rate of bleaching and disease. The piling up of pressures makes it hard for ecosystems to overcome any one pressure, we are repressing nature’s immune system as it were. The wide spread pressures are climate change, ocean acidification, nutrient pollution, and overfishing.

To begin to solve and mitigate the impact of these stressors we need to take a broad approach, understanding the nature of environmental stress and where best to act. Doing so, involves a broad scope, focussing not just on observing the environment but also acting upon information and working with those who can create sustainable movements for conservation.