A Global Treasure Worth Protecting: The Verde Island Passage and What Its Conservation Means for the World’s Marine Biodiversity

​Known as the "center of the center" of marine shorefish biodiversity on Earth, the Verde Island Passage (VIP) in the Philippines spans five provinces. Yet, despite its global ecological significance, formal protection remains out of reach as the VIP faces escalating threats from climate impacts, oil spill hazards, and expanding fossil fuel infrastructure.

As the world conducts its first global review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), learn why securing legal protection for the VIP under the Philippine ENIPAS law is vital to achieving a credible and quality global 30x30 target.