The impact of climate change and El Niño is increasingly causing coral reefs to bleach. WWF’s Friends of the Reef project is an effort to protect Asia Pacific’s coral reef ecosystems, which are the source of new coral recruits for reefs throughout the region and a source of livelihood for coastal people, especially in the fishery and tourism sectors. Friends of the Reef engages local stakeholders and decision makers in developing, testing, and implementing plans to increase coral reef resilience to major threats in the region, including climate change. This project also aims to increase awareness and advocacy activities by highlighting stories and show-cases from previous, current, and future coral bleaching in major reef countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region then using this information to call for emission reduction in regional countries. Friends of the Reef also provides collaborative management mechanisms, enabling the governments of major reef countries to enhance the management and network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).  In Thailand, Friends of the Reef is monitoring coral bleaching in Phuket Island, Hat Noppaatthara/ Phi Phi Island National Park, Mu Ko Surin National Park, Ko Rawi, Ko Adang and Ko Bulonle parks.

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