Earth’s vast oceans, long viewed as an infinite supply of food and a bottomless repository for our waste, have been pushed to the brink. Now, with sea levels rising and coral reefs dying, our oceans’ ability to support marine life — and us — is at risk. It is time to sound the alarm.
Troubled Waters
With their ability to feed the world and regulate our climate, Earth's oceans make our planet livable. Yet we’re choking the life out of them:
Answering the Call
Conservation International works in 20 countries to sustainably and equitably manage oceans and coasts for the benefit of people and nature. Our strategy is threefold: to safeguard the ocean areas on which humans depend, to reinforce and protect depleted wild-catch fisheries, and to reinvigorate degraded coastal ecosystems and restore their ability to mitigate climate change.
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Conserving critical habitat
Conservation International has supported over 1,200 protected areas, spread over 77 countries. In addition to protected areas on land, this includes over 4.5 million square kilometers of ocean, where activities such as tourism, development and fishing are managed to ensure sustainability.
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Safeguarding seafood
Seafood is the most traded food product globally, and 3 billion people rely on seafood as their primary source of protein. Conservation International works in coastal fisheries in nine countries to work with ocean-dependent communities to sustain and access this nutrient-rich food source.
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11 Facts About Mangroves
In a single square mile, mangroves hold as much carbon as the annual emissions of 90,000 cars. The degradation of mangroves and other coastal ecosystems also accounts for up to 19 percent of carbon emissions from global deforestation.
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Investing in sustainability
The GDP of the ocean is more than India, Italy or Brazil and is expected to double by 2030. Championing data-driven policy at all levels and leveraging private investment, Conservation International aims to ensure that the ocean is treated sustainably.
© CI/Sterling Zumbrunn
The world’s oceans are vast, the threats widespread, and there’s much more work to do. You can help.
HOW MANY KILOMETERS WILL YOU PROTECT?
You can help protect 1 square kilometer of ocean with a donation of $34. This can protect critical species and the livelihoods of people who depend on the ocean.