Indonesia - Coral Reef Rescue - Overview
| 25,000 km²Total coral reef area | 10%Of the world's coral reefs | 569Stony coral species | 3.5M haMangrove forest (21% of world) | 4 BCUsPriority reef areas |
Indonesia is a global epicenter of coral reef biodiversity, with 25,000 km² of coral reefs that make up 10% of the world's total. The country is home to 569 species and 83 genera of stony corals, with four species being endemic. Besides coral reefs, Indonesia also boasts extensive marine habitats, including 150,693 hectares of seagrass and 3.5 million hectares of mangrove forests, which account for 21% of the world's mangrove area.
The GEF-funded Coral Reef Rescue Project works with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and Reef Check Indonesia to protect the country's resilient reefs and support the coastal communities who depend on them.
Coral Reef Rescue Team - Indonesia
| Focal National Government Ministry Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) | National Technical Facilitator Reef Check Indonesia |
| Derta Prabuning Reef Check Indonesia Director |
Imron Rosadi National Coordinator |
Fawzia Nasution Project Coordinator / Finance |
Indonesia - Key Focal Areas
Indonesia's Coral Reefs
The importance of coral reefs is well-recognized in Indonesia's development plans, highlighting the need for conservation and rehabilitation, particularly in response to threats like pollution, overfishing, and climate change. The potential economic loss from reef degradation is significant, affecting tourism, fisheries, and the livelihoods of small-scale fishers, with women playing a crucial yet undervalued role in these industries.
Indonesia’s marine conservation efforts are focused on several priority provinces, each facing unique challenges. Maluku Province, with vast coral reefs and mangrove forests, has a strong tradition of marine management but suffers from poor coral conditions in many areas. Riau Archipelago, located in western Sumatra, has seen some improvement in coral cover and has plans for mangrove restoration. East Nusa Tenggara is notable for its Marine Protected Areas, though much of its coral and mangrove habitats are in decline. South Sulawesi, with several marine parks, also faces challenges with deteriorating mangrove conditions. In each province, marine resources are crucial to the local economy, contributing significantly to GDP and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.
Indonesia's Biodiversity Conservation Units
Maluku has a strong marine tenure customary system and a rich foundation of traditional knowledge, though much of its extensive reef area is in only fair condition.
Located in western Sumatra, Riau Archipelago has a population of 2 million with over 70,000 fishers who depend on marine resources.
Home to several major Marine Protected Areas including Sawu Sea National Park and Komodo National Park, though much of the province's coral and mangrove habitat is in decline.
Home to Takabonerate, Kapoposang and Selayar marine parks. Marine resources are central to the local economy, though mangrove condition is deteriorating.
Latest Updates from Indonesia
- Advancing Coral Reef Protection Through National Coordination in Indonesia
- From Research to Action: How the 50 Reefs Paper Continues to Shape Coral Reef Conservation
- Ambon Workshops – ClimateREEFS and Coral Reef Rescue Project
- Indonesian translation of online course CRRI101x now available!
- Indonesia - Strengthening coral reef management through collaborative capacity building
New Resources
The GEF -7 Coral Reef Rescue Project has released free online courses and resources on coral reef conservation. These include;
- Coral Reefs: Introduction to Challenges and Solutions
- Coral Reefs: Data and Monitoring
- Coral Reefs: Sustainable Blue Economy
- Coral Reefs: Climate Resilient Communities
Alongside these courses, a new online decision support tool was created Coral Reef Rescue Portal. This brings together over 70 existing coral reef datasets and resources in one easy-to-use, searchable platform.
Relevant documents:
- Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia Implementation Plan (SDS-SEA IP) 2017-2022
- Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA, Published: 17 Oct 2019)
- Strategic Action Program for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand, Published for implementation between 2008- 2020.
- MPA Vision 2030 and Roadmap to MPA management
- National Action Plan on Coral Reef Conservation (2017-2021)
- Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF)
*Note: To learn more about Indonesia's invovlement in the Coal Ref Rescue Project and their reefs, please read through the Project Document.
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