WWF, the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security, and development partners have launched an Instagram photo contest called I Heart Coral Triangle in celebration of the annual Coral Triangle Day, which happens every 9 June.
This social media contest, which runs from May 22 to June 9, encourages people to take a photo of any heart-shaped object or natural material anywhere in the Coral Triangle region, post it on Instagram with the hashtag #iheartcoraltriangle, and then share the photo on Facebook or Twitter.
The photo that receives the most “likes” on Instagram will win a 3-day, 2-night stay for two at El Nido Resorts’ award-winning Miniloc Island Resort in the Philippines, including two-way airfare from Manila to El Nido, full board meals, and a tour of the island, courtesy of El Nido Resorts.
“We hope that this simple yet impactful social media activity will help increase awareness on this globally-significant marine region, whose resources sustain the lives of millions of people through food and jobs,” says Jackie Thomas, WWF Coral Triangle Programme Leader.
The Coral Triangle is one of the greatest ecological complexes on Earth—a vast ocean expanse that spreads across the seas of six countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste.
As the world’s center of marine life on the planet, the Coral Triangle’s natural wealth directly sustains more than 130 million people living along the coasts of this 6 million square-kilometer marine area.
“This region’s fisheries and tourism resources alone are valued at billions of dollars annually and rely on healthy coastal and marine habitats through the effective protection and management of key areas that are vital for people’s food security, livelihoods, and economic stability,” says Thomas.
“By providing a digital platform through this contest, we aim to drive active participation among younger audiences—the future of our planet, in order for them to show their love for the Coral Triangle in a creative way, while emphasizing the urgent need to protect the ocean,” adds Thomas.
Aside from the grand prize winner, the top 10 photos with the most “likes” on Instagram will receive a Coral Triangle photo book—a 276-page book that includes over 400 stunning photographs by award-winning nature photographer Jurgen Freund.
Now on its fourth year, the annual Coral Triangle Day celebration has grown exponentially and has become a landmark regional event to celebrate World Oceans Day with one simple message: protect the ocean that sustains us all.