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The Coral Triangle is defined as the global epicenter of marine species diversity and is one of the top priorities for marine conservation. This magnificent region of the ocean covers an area of 5.7 million km2 and contains more than one-third of all the world's coral reefs. It harbors more than 600 species of reef-building coral, or 75% of all known coral species, and over 3,000 species of reef fish. It also holds nearly 75% of the world's mangrove species, over 45% of seagrass species, 58% of tropical marine mollusks, five species of sea turtles and at least 22 species of marine mammals also occur in the region - an astounding level of diversity concentrated in less than 1% of the world ocean's surface area. Moreover, large numbers of these species occur nowhere else, including 97 species of reef fishes endemic to Indonesia, and more than 50 in the Philippines.

In broad geographical terms, the Coral Triangle includes portions of two biogeographic regions and encompasses East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia (Sabah), Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Solomon Islands. Indonesia and the Philippines together hold a massive 77% of the regions' coral reefs.

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