New Caledonia has tightened the protection of some of its coral reefs, banning human activity in a 7000 square kilometre zone.
Crown-of-thorns Sea Star - Yambé-Diahoué New Caledonia. Photo: AFP / Biosphoto / Nicolas-Alain Petit
The government says a further 21,000 square kilometres will be a nature reserve, covering about a third of New Caledonia's reefs, which are rich in biodiversity.
In the reserve, there is a ban on fishing and motorboats.
In 2014, New Caledonia declared a marine park encompassing 1.3 million square kilometres, in which there are 2,000 species of fish and 310 types of coral.
The French government has welcomed the announcement, saying it is a major irreversible step forward.
WWF said such leadership should inspire other governments, as protected areas help the eco-system against the impact of climate change.
