The Micronesian Islands are located in the western South Pacific Ocean and have been designated as a Hope Spot by Mission Blue. The 2,100 tropical islands scattered across the heart of the Pacific offer some of the most pristine and bio-diverse underwater environments on Earth. The total ocean area within the perimeter of the islands is 7,400,000 square kilometres (2,900,000 sq mi). There are four main island groups; the Caroline Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands.
The Nature Conservancy's Micronesia Challenge is a commitment by the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands to preserve the natural resources that are crucial to the survival of Pacific traditions, cultures and livelihoods. The overall goal of the Challenge is to effectively conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020.
