Why Create a Natural Park of the Coral Sea ?

The creation of the Natural Park of the Coral Sea benefits New Caledonia in several ways :

  • It enables the protection of New Caledonia’s exceptional biodiversity housed in its maritime space while also allowing sustainable and responsible economic development.
  • It contributes to New Caledonia’s outreach and acts as an international showcase.   

The Natural Park also assist in reaching Objective 11 of the strategic plan for biological diversity signed in 2010 in Aichi, which aims to protect  at least 10 % of maritime zones.

Laurent Ballesta, Andromeda's eye

Laurent Ballesta, Andromeda's eye

The implementation of a joint sustainable policy for the exploitation and the preservation of the Pacific Ocean makes managing New Caledonia’s maritime space all the more meaningful.

Therefore, the country participates in the regional dynamic like the Cook and Kiribati islands.

The process started in the Pacific in 2010 when the Heads of State of the Pacific Islands Forum approved the roadmap for Pacific Oceanscape a collaborative space dedicated to sustainable development, engineered to respond to the needs of Pacific peoples.

The aforementioned roadmap which orients regional policy aims to create conditions which would guarantee a safe future in Pacific islands nations. It ambitions to enable the protection of 40 million of km2, or 10 % of the surface covered by the Pacific Ocean.

Its objectives are as follows: implement an integrated management of the oceans, facilitate the adaptation to climate and environmental changes, and maintain ties between as well as leaning and sharing opportunities for every Forum-member countries.

On 4 September 2012 during the Pacific Island Forum meeting taking place in the Cook Islands, The President of the Government of New Caledonia declared New Caledonia’s intent to create a Natural Park covering the entirety of its maritime space.

 Pacific shearwater looking for prey. Chick growth and survival depend on this quest for food in ocean environments, Thomas Vignaud

Pacific shearwater looking for prey. Chick growth and survival depend on this quest for food in ocean environments, Thomas Vignaud

 A starfish still unknown to science among gorgonians, Laurent Ballesta, L'œil d'Andromède

A starfish still unknown to science among gorgonians, Laurent Ballesta, L'œil d'Andromède

Stakes involving the Natural Park

New Caledonia decided to make the following bets on the future, which were then outlined into 8 orientations:

  • Putting human beings at the heart of the Natural Park’s project,
  • Creating favorable conditions for sustainable development
  • Allowing New Caledonia to become a driver of the regional dynamic supporting sustainable development.

Thanks to the choices made,  the Natural Park’s management can be operated at different levels while remaining relevant and linked to the policies undertaken by  New Caledonia’s provinces and the neighboring countries.

Latest News

Surveying a reef in the Coral sea Marine Park ©Daniela Ceccarelli
15 May 2019
Science

In April 2018, Parks Australia and James Cook University scientists began a three year program to monitor the health of some of Australia’s remotest and most pristine coral reefs in the Coral Sea Marine Park.

Entrecasteaux îlot Huon ©DAM-NC SPE
15 March 2019
Science environnement

 

 

 

A new five-year action plan for the Entrecasteaux Atolls, linked to the 2018-2022 natural park of the Coral sea management plan, replaces the existing management plan which concluded at the end of 2018.

Récif corallien, ©Francesca Benzoni IRD-Projet POST BLANCO
18 September 2018
Évènement environnement

The natural park of the Coral Sea now has 28,000 square kilometres (10,810 square miles) of reserves. Three decrees adopted Tuesday, august 14 by the government of New Caledonia define very precisely the outlines.