East Timor has one of the world's best coral reefs. The colourful coral has been able to grow and has remained largely unaffected, ironically, due to the country's onshore armed conflict.

Potentially harmful influences to the coral from industrial pollution and tourism have been limited because fighting in East Timor has kept investors and tourists away.

But now, the government has focused its attention to rapid industrialisation and economic development, particularly the construction of a new power plant.