Global 200 Ecoregions

Destructive Fishing, Pollution and Uncontrolled Tourism Development Threaten Coral Reefs of Marine Paradise
East African marine 
ecosystems

Map of East African ecoregion
 
Major Habitat Type
Coral Reef & Associated Marine Ecosystems, Mangroves

Biogeographic Region
Western Indian Ocean

Location
Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania


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Biological Diversity

The People

The Threat

The Response

The Challenge


Summary

East Africa is a region of extraordinary beauty and rich biological diversity. Many of its spectacular natural features, such as the Serengeti plain and Mount Kilimanjaro, are world renowned. But the region also boasts an incredible wealth of tropical marine ecosystems, including extensive mangroves, diverse coral reefs, sea grass beds, and productive offshore waters where the circulation and meeting of ocean currents ensures a rich supply of nutrients.

While many parts of the region's marine ecosystem remains relatively intact, increasing deforestation, dynamite fishing, over fishing and pollution are a growing threat to the ecology of these zones. WWF is working to establish marine protected areas throughout the region - with some success already reported from important areas such as Mafia Island in Tanzania - and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources so that the region's full wealth of marine biodiversity can be maintained.

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