Coral Reef Conservation Through Coral Adoption in the Thousand Islands

Jakarta, August 11, 2022 - With an archipelago comprising 78 islands, the Thousand Islands National Park (TNKpS) offers marine natural beauty on par with other sea destinations. Its underwater splendor attracts divers, especially the vibrant coral reefs. However, the coastal and marine ecosystems have suffered considerable damage due to human activities as well as natural impacts from global warming. This includes areas within TNKpS located in the Administrative Regency of the Thousand Islands, DKI Jakarta Province. Research conducted over two years by the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (TERANGI) reported a decline in coral cover in the Thousand Islands from 34.2% to 31.7%. This reduction in live coral cover is caused by coral mortality and damage.

To restore the damaged reefs, various methods have been implemented, one of which is coral transplantation. Coral transplantation is a reef rehabilitation effort involving coral propagation or the cutting of parent corals, which are then planted in damaged areas or used to create new habitats on vacant seabeds. Besides providing ecological restoration, coral transplantation also offers economic benefits to local communities.

Balancing the enhancement of community livelihoods with the desire to preserve marine resources is both a demand and a necessity that must be met. Smiling Coral Indonesia (SCI), a group partnering with TNKpS, aims to achieve community self-reliance and welfare while contributing to environmental conservation. SCI is a community fostered by the Thousand Islands National Park, active in marine science, conservation, ecotourism development, aquaculture, marine waste management, community empowerment, and training programs initiated by environmentally conscious millennials on Pramuka Island, Thousand Islands, DKI Jakarta Province.

One coral transplantation method developed by SCI is the use of “rocklife” media. This medium is a modification of the rockfile media developed by TNKpS. The rocklife media uses naturally dead coral rock reinforced with a cement base, shaped into squares or circles measuring 40x40 cm. The coral stones are arranged like small structures designed to serve as fish and marine organism habitats. A 1-inch PVC pipe is installed to plant baby corals, and each unit is tagged with a waterproof paper label and covered with glass.

On August 4, 2022, the Directorate of PJLKK had the opportunity to participate in a coral adoption program at the Marine Park Area and Coral Reef Education Center in the waters of Tanjung Elang, Pramuka Island. Together with the SCI group leader, Hermansyah, the coral adoption program began with a briefing on coral conservation and its benefits.

"One of the activities we have developed is the coral adoption edu-ecotourism program, a tourist attraction that involves visitors not only enjoying the beauty of the national park area but also contributing to coral reef conservation efforts. The corals used are cultivated (F2) corals, with only 10% taken from parent colonies, and observations show a success rate of 85%,” explained Hermansyah.

According to research by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the presence of coral reefs in Indonesia must be carefully protected due to coral damage caused by explosives and global climate change.

“One of the climate mitigation efforts is planting corals, mangroves, and seagrass. We are allowed to carry out planting activities over an area of 13 hectares through a Conservation Partnership with the TNKpS Management Office, covering coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass ecosystems,” added Hermansyah.

Adopting a donation-based concept, the SCI group provides the rocklife media and 10 coral seedlings with a donation contribution of five hundred thousand rupiahs (Rp. 500,000). As a form of identity, each coral seedling is labeled with the name of its foster parent. This way, when visiting Pramuka Island, the fostered coral seedlings can be checked on again. Exciting, isn’t it?

The coral adoption program is not just about planting; the seedlings are regularly monitored by the SCI team. This monitoring allows visitors to get closer to the coral reef ecosystem. “Don’t worry, the coral adoption in the Thousand Islands is not for commercial sale but for reef conservation. We will provide updates on the growth of the coral seedlings every three months for one year,” explained Hermansyah.

Coral adoption is just one of many ways to help conserve the marine environment, in addition to contributing to coral reef planting. Simple actions that can be taken include not disposing of waste into the sea or rivers. It’s no secret that rivers eventually flow into the ocean, right? So if we throw trash into rivers, it’s the same as dumping it into the sea, which ultimately damages the marine ecosystem, including coral reefs.

Come on, Conservationmates! Don’t just enjoy Indonesia’s natural beauty—let’s also work together to preserve and maintain ecosystem balance for a better future.