Niue’s enormous marine reserve, the Moana Mahu Marine protected area has now been formalised. The 127,000 square kilometre zone constitutes 40 percent of Niue’s exclusive economic zone. The reserve will include a special management space area around the partially submerged Beveridge Reef.
Earth Scientist and President of Tofia Niue Coral Pasisi called the landmark achievement “a great investment in our Earth and for Niueans now and into the future”.
“We live in a country and culture that is intricately entwined with our land and ocean. We have not built ourselves too far apart from mother nature, to know when she needs repair.”
The area will be known as the “Beveridge Reef Nukutulueatama Special Management Area” and is considered to have particular importance for its biodiversity. The size of the zone, relative to the country’s total area, makes it the second-largest reserve in the world, after Palau, and Niue is now calling on other countries to follow suit.
Original Source: The SPREP website
