KARACHI - Coral reefs could disappear completely from the Coral Triangle region of the Pacific Ocean by the end of the century, threatening the food supply and livelihoods for about 100 million people, according to a new study from World Wildlife Fund. Averting catastrophe will depend on quick and effective global action on climate change coupled with the implementation of regional solutions to problems of over-fishing and pollution, according to The Coral Triangle and Climate Change: Ecosystems, People and Societies at Risk, the study said. The report offers two dramatically different scenarios for the Coral Triangle, which is comprised of the coasts, reefs and seas of the countries of Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. The Coral Triangle occupies just one per cent of the Earths surface, but is home to fully 30 per cent of the worlds coral reefs, 76 per cent of reef-building coral species and more than 35 per cent of coral reef fish species. It is also serves as vital spawning grounds for other economically important fish such as tuna. People see the biological treasures of the Coral Triangle destroyed over the course of the century by rapid increases in ocean temperature, acidity and sea level, while the resilience of coastal environments also deteriorates under faltering coastal management. Poverty increases, food security plummets, economies suffer and coastal people migrate increasingly to urban areas; reports the study comprehensively. The report also highlights the opportunities to avoid a worst-case scenario in the region through significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and international investment in strengthening the regions natural environments, solutions that would help to build a resilient and robust Coral Triangle in which economic growth, food security and natural environments are maintained. Climate change in the Coral Triangle is challenging but manageable, and the region would respond well to reductions in local environmental stresses from over fishing, pollution, and declining coastal water quality and health. Even under the best case scenario however, communities in the region can expect to experience dramatic losses of coral, rising sea level, increased storm activity, severe droughts and reduced food availability from coastal fisheries. But effective management of coastal resources would mean the communities would remain reasonably intact and more resilient in the face of such hardships. WWF officials said world leaders had a role to play in helping Coral Triangle countries strengthen management of their marine resources and through international action on climate change.