This war would pose a serious threat to the biodiversity of the Gulf region. According to the Global Environment Fund, the Gulf and Sea of Oman region is "one of the most important marine turtle habitats in the world... and plays a significant role in sustaining the life cycle of the marine turtle populations in the whole North Western Indo-pacific region" due to its shallow depth and high water temperature. Of the seven species of marine turtles in the world, five are found here. Four are "endangered" and one "threatened".