The French overseas territory of New Calendonia in the southwest Pacific voted on Tuesday to establish a 28,000 km² marine reserve to protect its rich marine life including five previously unprotected reefs. The vote comes after years of work by conservation agencies including World Wildlife Fund. The reserve will help conserve fish populations and protect near pristine reefs from tourists eager to glimpse the astoundingly beautiful underwater world. The Entrecasteux Reef, one of the five newly protected reefs is a World Heritage site.
In 2013 a National Geographic team set out to survey New Caledonia's offshore assets. The expedition and resulting scientific publications helped convince New Caledonia's government to protect what abundance Nature has bestowed. Watch the NatGeo video of what the explorers found. Green Kudos go to New Caledonia!