The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNP) from Thailand has announced that access to Bling Island and coral reefs adjacent to Sirinard National Park in Phuket, Thailand, is temporarily closed due to significant coral reef damage caused by rising water temperatures.
Why is Bling Island closing?
Access to these sites has been closed due to heat stress experienced by coral reefs following a major heat wave that has affected Thailand and the whole of Southeast Asia in recent weeks, on Koh Samed, Sumbon, Koh Surin, Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi and Lanta Islands.
In April, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that humanity is facing a massive coral bleaching episode due to record ocean temperatures.
Coral colonies are affected worldwide
Coral colonies are affected by temperature worldwide. Access closures to national parks are periodically determined in Thailand, which is expected to receive an estimated 28 million tourists by 2023. Many people come to Phuket to have fun or relax on the beach, thus participating in a phenomenon called overtourism, which threatens the fragile ecosystem.
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Climate warming is accelerating in Asia
In 2018, Maya Bay in the Ko Phi Islands, made famous by the Hollywood movie “The Beach,” was closed for more than four months to allow coral reefs and nature damaged by over-tourism to recover. Agerpress.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UN, climate warming is happening faster in Asia than in other parts of our planet. The situation is worsening day by day and authorities are trying to find the best solutions to save the planet.
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