The French overseas territory of New Caledonia announced Tuesday the highest possible levels of protection for some of the world’s last unspoiled coral reefs . All types of extraction, including commercial and industrial fishing , has been banned in the Chesterfield, Bellona, Entrecasteaux, Pétrie and Astrolabe coral ecosystems, according to a Tuesday press release from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which has long pushed the reefs’ protection. The New Caledonia government voted to set up marine protected areas (MPAs) surrounding the five reefs, safeguarding 28,000 square kilometers (10,810 square miles) of waters in all, AFP reported. President Philippe Germain believes the action has created the largest wilderness reserve in the world, he said in a press conference, as quoted by La Dépêche . Tourist activity is also expected to be rigorously controlled, making it harder for the 600,000 tourists who visit New Caledonia each year to access the sites, Reuters reported. Small eco-tourist groups and researchers may apply for permits for access. The reefs and the surrounding waters provide vital habitats for dugongs, seabirds, nesting green turtles and humpback whales. It’s also home to 1,700 species of fish and 473 different types of coral, according to Pew Charitable Trusts […]
New Caledonia Bans All Types of Extraction Surrounding Pristine Coral Reefs

Latest Articles
Circular business model lessons from IKEA, REI and Eileen Fisher
Ikea, REI and Eileen Fisher are banking on a circular model to propel them into the next era of commerce.//Images by Graeme Dawes,...
Thames Water hopes to harness human ‘poo power’ to heat homes
Thousands of homes in south-west London could soon be warmed by the waste from their local sewage works as part of England’s first...
Adorable goat playground raises awareness of upcycling waste
NOMAD architects and Karina Aramanda have transformed wood waste into GOT WASTE?, an educational pavilion and animal playground that raises awareness about the...
Green renovation to a ’50s California home features recycled denim insulation
A private residence in San Anselmo, California has received a green renovation with some unique features. Designers from Pfau Long Architecture expanded the...
Seville’s plan to turn oranges into electricity
Spanish engineers have updated the old citrus cliché, bringing it into the eco era — when life gives you oranges, make electricity. In...
Global Recycling Day: an International Recycling Movement
It’s easy to think of recycling only on a local level, such as what goes in the household recycling bin or when is...