MANILA, Philippines—South China Sea (SCS) has one of the richest marine biodiversity in the world but competing territorial claims and neglect are increasingly threatening its ecosystem. ADVERTISEMENTThe US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) pointed out that coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion and provide livelihood, especially for local communities. The reef features are distributed across nine main areas, including the Paracels and Spratlys, where the Philippines has claims on certain islands and rocks above water at high tide. PH reefs destroyedAccording to CSIS data, West Philippine Sea (WPS) reefs have not been spared. According to the CSIS report, most of the damage was caused by giant clam harvesting:

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 09, 2024 21:24 UTC